And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld … each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer … Revelation 6:9, 11
For some reason that phrase "each of them" in this verse struck me. It is so like our Lord to console each one, go through the line one by one, comforting each one individually, and giving each one of them their assurance in the form of a white robe.
Each of them. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defines this word as hékastos (from hekas, "separate"). It means "each or every -- any, both, each (one), every (man, one, woman), particularly." The HELPS Word-studies adds "each (individual) unit viewed distinctly, i.e. as opposed to "severally" (as a group)."
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that the translation "should read, and there was given them to each one a white robe, bringing out still more fully than the old text, that the white robe is an individual, not a common blessing."
Our Lord is an "each of them" Lord. He doesn't look at us as part of big groups, like our religious or political affiliations. We are not races or cultures or citizens to him. He is not patriotic in any way. He doesn't group us according to our demographics, like gender, income, education, or geographic location. We are individuals. We are "each of them." And he cares about each of us.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for (is concerned for, pays special attention to, gives thought to, takes an interest in) you. 1 Peter 5:7
Jesus always cared for the individual. Each child brought to him. Each hurting person in the crowd, like the woman with the issue of blood1, he identified and called to himself for an individual blessing. This kind of caring and taking of time for culturally insignificant, and sometimes culturally despised and rejected, individuals flabbergasted the disciples.
One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! Luke 18:15-16 (NLT)
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?'" Mark 5:30-31
I think the disciples wanted, and expected, Jesus to get on with the really important stuff of setting them free from Roman rule and taking over the kingdom. Instead, he kept stopping to look people in the eye, and talk with them, and place his hands of blessing and healing on them, and love them – individually. He still does.
I want you to know and hear this. You are an "each of them." You are not a bother to him. He cares for you. You. Come, let him lay his hands on your head. Let him look you in the eye and speak comfort to you. Whoever and wherever you are. Right now.
At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Luke 4:40
… He is not far from each one of us. Acts 17:27b (NKJV)
1Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:24-34, Luke 8:43-48
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