What Is Implied in "His Name is the Word of God"?

Revelation 19:11-13 "11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God."

I love this passage! For me this passage illustrates the glories of Christ in a very unique and diverse way. This passage has been on my mind much recently. As I have looked at the Book of Revelation a quote by John Stott has had a profound impact. John Stott states that what a beleaguered church needs is not information regarding a time line of future events, but a portrait of the Risen Christ - triumphant and reigning over everything. That understanding of Revelation has guided me to look at this book in a different light and is in part responsible for my view of Revelation 19. What a vision John must have had and the one Rev 19 must have been one of the most exciting. In this Chapter, the King is coming home - Amen! This is the culmination of redemptive history and it is the fulfilment of Christ's promise to return. The Lamb slain is returning as the Lion of Judah, returning in flaming fire to give relief to those afflicted and inflicting vengeance on those who do not obey His gospel. This is what we await. And oh how we must be confident that this day will come! He is not slow as some count slowness, he is patient towards us, but he will come as a thief in the night. So many things could be said about this event and I hope to be able to write more about this passage soon, but I want to focus now on the words "and the Name by which He is called is the Word of God." What does that mean and what does it imply. My mind is taken immediately to John 1:1 "1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Then we hear that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. So in John 1:1 we learn that this Word is Christ and Rev 19 confirms that Christ's name is the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the Word. However we call the Bible the Word of God - what does that mean? When the Bible - God's Word calls Jesus the Word of God, I take that to mean more than just Jesus is the physical manifestation, literally speaking member of the Godhead. I take it to mean that Jesus Christ is the essence and center of the Bible. Jesus is the Word because the Word consists of all that He is and all that He is about. What is the Bible about - Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Word , in fact that is his name - The Word of God - because his glory, his character, his nature - is summed up in the Word. If God would speak forth a word to point to the meaning of the Bible, that Word would be - Jesus Christ. And that is what he has done, in the precious books of the Bible. God the Father, through the Holy Spirit has spoken Jesus Christ onto every page. This Bible is God's Word and God's Word to us is - Jesus Christ. Now what implications result from this? The implication is every time we read the Word of God, what should translate to our hearts and minds is Jesus Christ. The Bible, behind all of its commands, all of it's stories, all of it's imperatives is revelation about the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible is designed and planned so that we might know him better - know HIM better. It is not here primarily as a way to triumph over evil, not primarily a way to defeat sin, not primarily a way do anything other than see him more clearly and enjoy him more fully. The Word of God is here so that we might see and savor Jesus Christ. So the implication is that we should use the Bible in such a way that He is seen more clearly and enjoyed more fully. We must strive to see Jesus on every page and to love him more because of what we see. We must be intentional. We must look for Jesus in every book. Christianity is not about rules, not about practical life strategies or helps, it is about loving Jesus more. We must use every verse as a way to make that happen. And for the preacher this means that behind every sermon on practical issues, behind every sermon on deep theology must be the connection that allows us, yea spurs us on to treasure the person of Jesus Christ. Let us not use it for any other ultimate purpose. One day Christ - the person - will come back and we will forver worship and praise him. And if He is not the object of our praise now - if HE is not the object of our praise - not his blessings or gifts - then we will be confused at what to do on that day and heaven will make no sense. Let us press the pages of Scripture to reveal the Glory of the person of Jesus Christ and let us never cease in our endeavor, through the Spirit, to know and rejoice in our great King.