Clothed with the Sun.
Chapter 13 from Mary: honor and value.
The last book of the Bible is a book especially written for artists. I love it because it is full of some of the most vivid images in the Bible. Revelation has been the inspiration for countless artists. Who can forget Holman Hunt’s painting of Jesus standing at the door knocking or the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah? When I was young and knew it all, I was sure that the John of the Gospels and letters was not the John who wrote Revelation. A funny thing about writers is that they grow and change. Over the years, I have developed a very committed base of friends who read my books. As many of you know, my style of writing has changed. I once used too many words, and tried to impress the folks who were not in my tribe. My tribe— the cool artists, designers, independent herd of cats with great clothes and interesting hair— do not read footnotes. Thank you. They just want the ideas, and some white space where they can color or draw pictures. I think John wrote Revelation when he was young, and described what he saw with too many words. And yes, I know there are a lot of people who disagree. But many of the same symbols, words, and pictures in Revelation appear in John’s Gospel. In the Gospel they are more nuanced, sophisticated, and elegant. The symbols in Revelation— numbers, signs, portents, and images— hit you in the face! I guess that is why Jesus called him the Son of Thunder. And just like at Cana, and at the cross, in Revelation John refers to Woman. She is never named. This time, beginning in Revelation 11:19 and continuing all through the next chapter, she is revealed as the Ark. She is not a box holding the tablets of the law and the manna and the rod of Aaron. Rather, She is the container of Him who cannot be contained— The bearer of the Word of life and container of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Bread of Life, the Great High Priest, and Word. A woman, clothed with the sun. Her glory is not from herself, she is enrobed with glory from on high. With the moon under her feet— the curse, the cycle of women, the power of the occult, and pagan religions— subject to her. And on her head she wears a crown of twelve stars. She is wears a Kingdom of God crown, God’s government. She is someone of royalty in the Kingdom of Heaven. And we discover who she is by what she does. She gives birth to a male child, one who will rule the nations with a rod of iron. This is the mother of the Messiah. And because of this, Satan hates her. So this woman becomes embroiled in a cosmic war. A culture war, one might say. The first Bible I ever bought for myself was called The Student Bible, and I remember a note about this passage. They called this “Christmas from a Cosmic Perspective.” From heaven’s perspective a teenage virgin in birth pangs, in a stable is really a Queen Mother clothed with the Sun, with the whole created order under her feet. A relationship with God is always going to raise you up. You become like the company you keep. And God raised up this woman, and clothed her with His glory. And war arose in heaven. Even in war it is all about relationship. John was not the last surrogate son that Mary adopted. It says that the dragon, Satan, made war with all of her offspring. If you are a Christian, you did not get here by yourself. It is not just you and Jesus. You are in relationship. There are millions who went before you. And you are connected. The Father is looking for a Bride for his Son. And you are part of that mystical Creature. And you are called to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and walk as a Royal Priesthood, and enter into the battle. Because John tells us the dragon is making war on you and on me. We are Her offspring. There is a great cosmic war of ideas that will be fought until the day that Jesus comes to rule and reign on the earth. In Zechariah there is an army of artisans who rise up to fight this war of ideas. And those creators are sent to terrorize those who are fighting psychological warfare against God’s people. And how does this army fight this battle and win? By the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. We win by the stories we tell, and the songs that we sing. We win by expressing the story of our redeemed whole lives in the beauty we make. We win by being sons and daughters of the King making the Word flesh through color, light, sound, and movement. We are a glorious army, clothed in splendid apparel. We carry the spiritual DNA of someone who said “yes” and believed that with God all things are possible. You have a very big job to do, and you are on the winning team. You are part of a new family, a new creation. The old has gone and the new is come. You were born to be clothed with glory and honor. You are destined to walk in dignity, and be part of the solution to the great problem— Restoring and redeeming a broken creation. The last picture of Mary in the Bible is one of exaltation and victory. The warrior queen with overcoming offspring. Stand up arise, and overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of your testimony. You do it by being a mature disciple of Jesus Christ.
This is a chapter from my book Mary: Honor and Value. If my work encourages you, consider becoming a paid subscriber or buy me a coffee. Thanks.