What tree summarises Spring perfectly? There are good options- magnolias for one! But for me it is the splendid delicate pastel pinks of the ornamental cherries that shout loudest.
When these beauties put on their show, I’m all in. The sheer volume of colour leaves me singing to myself as I hunt for the camera and a macro lens. Even as they pass over, the flowers insist on making generous bucket loads of pink confetti which transform the grass and pavements. England has splendid cherries; and I have seen photos of the even more astounding display of cherry blossom in Japan. Those Japanese displays are almost overpowering: so much perfection almost numbs the brain as the eyes are dazzled. I doubt I’ll ever get to Japan, but if I do go it will have to be in cherry blossom time.
It isn’t easy to convey the impact or my passion for cherry blossom, even with a photo! No picture can do justice to the stunning perfection.
I think John has a similar problem as he tries to describe the vision of Christ in Revelation 1 v12-20.
I turned around to see who was talking to me, and I saw seven gold lampstands, 13 and among them there was what looked like a human being, wearing a robe that reached to his feet, and a gold band around his chest. 14 His hair was white as wool, or as snow, and his eyes blazed like fire; 15 his feet shone like brass that has been refined and polished, and his voice sounded like a roaring waterfall. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth. His face was as bright as the midday sun. 17 When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the first and the last. 18 I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I have authority over death and the world of the dead. 19 Write, then, the things you see, both the things that are now and the things that will happen afterward. 20 Here is the secret meaning of the seven stars that you see in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Beautiful beyond description… symbols of spiritual significance… words of power and grace. Having seen the vision, nothing less than the real Presence of Jesus will satisfy the soul or fulfil the Promise of the Lord Almighty.
Jesus, glorified, is Perfect; full of authority and wonder so that John is terrified and yet totally attracted.
As we draw closer to Holy Week, we will be reminded of Jesus in many situations described in the Gospels. Triumph and humility, compassion and tragedy- cruel death and a glorious Resurrection. All of that awesome procession prepares us for the fulfilment that John finds in the Revelation Vision.
“Don’t be afraid! I am the first and the last. I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I have authority over death and the world of the dead...”
Our Perfect Saviour, Perfect Lord, Perfect Hope. Hallelujah!
The Reflectionary 