Finding The Real Jesus - A Head and Hair of White

Finding The Real Jesus - A Head and Hair of White

Revelation 1:14

“His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow...”

John, the Apostle, relating his vision of the resurrected Lord Jesus, begins to describe the physical appearance of what he saw. He mentions white hair.

White hair is a figurative way of referring to someone as being wise and learned, having lived a long life of experience and knowledge. It brings to mind the book of Proverbs which presents wisdom as a person, pleading with each of us to listen to her and to accept her call.

But, there is a scene in Daniel 7 where Daniel was given a glimpse into heaven, too. We see what appears to be a courtroom scene where God takes His seat on His throne. His hair is described as pure wool and His clothing white like snow. His name, we are told, is Attiq Yomin. To you and I that means the Ancient of Days.

The Ancient of Days sounds very poetic and stately but what does it mean? The literal meaning is more like “before there were days.” In other words, it is One who existed before days were even possible. God was there before there was a sun to give light and an earth to receive it. There were no planets, no stars and no people or earth. There was only God.

Why is it important to see God in this way? Because to you and I, The Ancient of Days - the Wise One with white hair like snow - is in charge and He is the ultimate and final authority for all people and things. It means that we will all learn some day what thrones are for and what it means to be brought before His.

Does this vision of God distress and alarm you? It should, because that is exactly how Daniel felt in verse 15.

God is a God of love, mercy and grace but we forget that He is also just and holy and pure. Revelation 1 and Daniel 7 are there to remind us of the incredibly complex picture of who He is and what He is all about. His white head and hair symbolize the wisdom He possesses by which He will, one day, fairly and equitably judge the earth.

Daniel 7:21-22

“I kept looking... until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.”