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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
During the sunny but cold days that followed last week’s snowfall in Atlanta, I found it necessary to wear sunglasses when driving for any length of time. I had seen snow before, but not like this. Immediately after the snow fell, a slow and extremely cold rain began to fall and formed a crust of ice on top of the snow. The grass, trees, bushes and everything close to the surface of the earth reflected light from all directions; the indirect light literally hurt!
For centuries, the word snow has been used to describe objects that are extremely white. In fact, the Bible uses snow in this manner in almost a dozen places. Today’s message will involve a quick glance at some of these places. In some of these places the word snow is used to describe the appearance of deity. Daniel first used this analogy to describe God the Father. He wrote, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” (Daniel 7.9). Mark’s gospel record uses the same comparison to depict the appearance of Jesus when He was transfigured before the eyes of Peter, James, and John. “And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.” (Mark 9.3-4). John the Revelator also used snow to describe similarities between the whiteness of Jesus and the whiteness of Jesus. “And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.” (Revelation 1.13-14).
On the occasion of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there were events in which men were stricken motionless by the sight of similar things. Here is Matthew’s account: “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.” (Matthew 28.1-4).
Perhaps of greater immediate significance to us is the fact that the Bible uses the word snow to describe what happens to the blackness of human sin when it is removed by the grace and forgiveness of God. First, we quote the psalmist: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:7-9). One of the more famous lines goes like this: “Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.’”(Isaiah 1.18).
In closing, being spiritually white as snow has two parts; the part that we perform and the part that God performs. Read now Isaiah’s full comment from above. ‘“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1.16-18). Our part and God’s part!
Questions:
1. Why is snow used as a means of expressing whiteness? What other figures are used for the same purpose?
2. Why is purity and being spiritually clean the opposite of dirty and contaminated? In such an analogy, how would you characterize sin?
3. Why do you suppose that God the Father and Jesus Christ are both depicted in terms of whiteness and brightness?
4. Just how white did Jesus appear at the transfiguration (see Mark 9.3)?
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