“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.”
Revelation 3:14 NIV
Think of the ways Jesus is portrayed in Christmas greetings mailed this time of year. Baby Jesus sleeps in a manger. Mary cuddles Him in her arms. Donkeys and sheep huddle around Him. These common images remind us that Jesus was truly born in our own grubby world, with all its limitations and hardships. They represent a central truth—that “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14).
Yet another vital truth is often portrayed on these greetings, usually in the form of a bright halo, a star in the sky, or a gentle radiance lighting the scene—that “the Word became flesh.” That tiny baby, swaddled in humility, is none other than God the Son (John 1:1, 18), the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), the One through whom God created all things (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), the supreme authority over all creation (Colossians 1:15, 18; Revelation 3:14).
About a hundred years after His birth, Jesus reminded us of this truth in Revelation 3:14. As the God-Man, He is the “Amen”—that is, the embodiment of truth itself. Therefore, we can trust Him completely. And because He conquered death and brings us life, He is the ruler of God’s creation (Revelation 3:14). That baby in a manger is God over all, the supreme authority over heaven and earth and over every aspect of our lives.