Day 17: The Bright Morning Star

Yesterday we studied the beautiful Title Alpha and Omega. The title that we're going to study today is also taken from the Book of Revelation. It is: The Bright Morning Star. Right at the end of the Book of Revelation, Jesus speaks to John, the Revelator, and He says this, in Revelation 22:16:

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (NIV)

Actually, there are two titles in that verse, the Root and the Offspring of David and the bright Morning Star. If we look for a moment at the Root and the Offspring of David, we see it corresponds in a certain sense with the title that we looked at yesterday, Alpha and Omega, but with special application to David and his house. As Root, Jesus was Alpha to David's house, as Offspring He's Omega. He's the one from whom they were initiated, the one in whom they'll find fulfilment.

However, the title that we want to focus on today is the second one in that verse, the Bright Morning Star. The reason why Jesus is called the Sun is because of certain, specific, unique features of the sun in our world. I'll pick out two. First of all, the sun in our universe is the sole universal source of light and heat and therefore of life itself. Without the sun, there can be no life in our world. He supplies everywhere, both light and heat. Secondly, the sun, because of the fact that it sets and rises, appears and disappears, always carries with it the promise of sunrise after darkness. So those are the two associations. First of all, the sun is the sole universal source of light and heat, therefore of life itself. Secondly, the sun always carries with it the promise of sunrise after darkness.

For some further scriptures on that first application, the sun as the sole universal source of light and heat, we look for a moment in Psalm 19, verses 4 through 6 which is a very vivid and beautiful picture of the heavenly bodies and in particular, of the sun. The psalmist says:

“In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun, [Isn't that beautiful; the heavens are like the tent for the sun. Then he goes on to say:] the sun, who is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. [It speaks of both the beauty and the strength of the sun. He's like a bridegroom adorned in his glorious attire and he's like a champion who runs a race in full strength. Then it goes on, verse 6:] It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.” (NIV)

That's a profound scientific truth which we recognize today. Everything in our world derives light and heat from one unique source: the sun. And that's how Jesus is to this world. He's the sole source of light and heat and therefore of life itself. He's like the bridegroom. He's like the strong man. He's beautiful and He's glorious.

Let's look also in Hebrews 1, verses 1 through 3:

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory [We'll go no further than that] The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (NIV)

Of course, the word Son in that last phrase is S-o-n, but the phrase, "the radiance of God's glory" immediately reminds us of the sun, s-u-n. So, Jesus is the radiance of the glory of the Son, which is God the Father. There's a very beautiful parable there in nature. In the reality of the sun and its light. Let me just take a moment to unfold it to you. There's a picture of the total nature of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It's represented to us by the sun and by its light and by our experience. The substance of the sun represents God, the Father. Nobody has ever seen the substance of the sun. Nobody has ever seen God the Father. The manifest brightness, the radiance of the sun, represents God the Son and the rays that convey that brightness to us, that make it possible for us to actually see that brightness, represent God, the Spirit. And interestingly enough, these rays are refracted in the rainbow into seven colours, the distinctive number of the Holy Spirit. So there's just a little parable in nature. The substance of the sun is God the Father. The radiance of the glory of the sun is Jesus Christ, the Son. The rays that convey that radiance to you and me, that's the Holy Spirit.