Adoration

Revelation 1:12-20
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
Exodus 30:20-21
Psalm 145:11-13

“His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace.”
– John the Disciple, speaking of seeing King Jesus glorified in a vision (Revelation 1:15)

Likely, unless we’re a blacksmiths, we don’t have a good mental image for “fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace.” The best I can imagine is a shiny, copper American penny. Thankfully, Scripture itself comes to our aid as fellow saints Ezekiel and Daniel offer descriptions of their similar visions.

Ezekiel says polished bronze “sparkled” and “gleamed.” (Ezekiel 1:7)
In his vision, Daniel also said it “gleamed.” (Daniel 10:6)
A Greek word study of “fine bronze” reveals the compounding of two words implying “a white brilliance of more value than gold.” (BlueLetterBible.org)

In the first century, bronze was highly valued for its durability and was often used to repair structures. Think of it like the “duct tape” of the first century! Crumbling corner of a building? No problem; apply burnished bronze and it’s as good as new. In fact, the bronze portion would likely outlast the rest of the building. In addition, when light hit the fired alloy, it did indeed sparkle and gleam brilliantly, blinding the one who stood in its beam.

Durability, strength, reliability, and countless specific images of gleaming bronze would have immediately come to mind for the first people who heard Revelation read aloud. No dull, grimy pennies here! Kingly feet that gleamed like sun hitting honed and heated bronze spoke endlessly of His ability to withstand any and every foe. None could defeat Him for He had entered the fires and come through just as fiercely staunch as when He’d begun. His reign was indestructible, this King with Burnished Bronze Feet. (Daniel 7:27, Psalm 145:11-13)

While we may think of cheap copper coins, and first century Gentiles saw gleaming bronze covering gaping holes, the Jews’ first thought was something altogether weightier. To a Jew, burnished bronze brought to mind the Tabernacle, their sacred place of worship, the only place to meet with God. The space between the outer courts and the altar was occupied by a single object, a wash basin constructed from bronze that had been so polished it shone and gleamed in the sun’s rays. The water that filled its cavern added to the shine as it shimmered in the light. Why was the basin brimming with water standing as an obstacle to entering the presence of God?

Simple.
It’s not the basin standing in the way.
It’s sin.

The first bronze basin was constructed amidst the sands of desert wandering by enslaved-turned-covenant-people. After about 12 months of wandering, the instructions for building a tabernacle had come from God through Moses. Their stripes from slave master whips had healed over, leaving rough scars. They were learning to laugh together, worship together, sacrifice for their sins together, and understand the price tag for sin would always be death. (Romans 6:23)

The community who had walked the dry land beneath the Red Sea had spent a full calendar year gathering morning manna, learning to rest on the Sabbath, and live according to the covenant of the God who had freed them when there was nothing but death for them in Egypt. Israel was learning to trust the Unseen God.

Building the Tabernacle was an immense undertaking, requiring the entire fledgling nation to work together. As Moses announced each new article that would reside in the Tabernacle and gave specifications for its construction, the people would rummage their tents and belongings and bring whatever they had in order to build each item. Necklaces and rings to be melted down for gold coverings, fabrics for tapestries, and for the basin, bronze pieces so highly heated and deeply polished that they reflected one’s own image back to them, like a mirror. (Exodus 38:8)

And so, the basin was built with polished “mirrors,” reflecting the image of those who approached its waters back to them.

When a first-century Jew heard John’s description of Jesus’ feet as burnished bronze, they knew exactly what it meant. The feet of bronze reflected back to the people their sinfulness, their need to be cleansed. Forgiveness was always available at the Tabernacle with the right sacrifice. 

But for the Hebrew who ignored their sin, who refused to face the reflection of sin glaring back at them, they simply could not be forgiven. They were cast out of the community, excluded from the presence of God.

Sin separates us from a holy God.
Sin carries a price tag of death.
Every. Single. Time.

Yes, burnished bronze filled Jewish minds with the absolute need for forgiveness, while also, at the very same time, welcomed them to wash in the waters the basin held. (Exodus 30:20-21) Forgiveness was here. Purity could be found inside the cloaks of God’s righteous covering repentant hearts.

How precious are those burnished bronze feet of Christ!
Steadfast and strong, indestructible against any enemy for Christ had entered the grave and come out alive! His feet reflected our need for a Savior, a rescuer who could, and would, pay the price tag of our sin, Death. His gleaming feet proclaimed He paid sin’s full price and emerged as Victor. (1 Corinthians 15:3-5) His feet beckoned all to come, be forgiven, and walk free in the Kingdom of Life ruled by King Jesus, the One whose reign was indestructible!

Come to these burnished bronze feet of the King, dear sister! Come, see your sin. Come, be forgiven. Come, and know the King Conquers Death forever!