The Lion and the Lamb
Who is Jesus ? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 4 viewsWho is Jesus? He is the Lion and Lamb victorious and worthy of our praise.
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He is the Lion and the Lamb, Worthy to be praised.
He is the Lion and the Lamb, Worthy to be praised.
Introduction
Reading Revelation usually brings about three responses, frustration, fear, or faith.
Frustration cause its confusion
Fear cause I understand but don’t like what is going to happen
faith cause I understand and what to avoid what will happen.
Need
My hope today is that we will open up the best chapter to highlight who Jesus is and that as a result you will understand and chose faith in him as the Only one worthy of your praise.
Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.
And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it.
Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.
He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.
They said with a loud voice: The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!
I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
He is the Lord of History (5:1-5)
He is the Lord of History (5:1-5)
1. He is lord of History according to God’s plan (5:1)
1. He is lord of History according to God’s plan (5:1)
Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Revelation is a book of judgment, salvation, and restoration:
Judgment - seals (ch. 6), trumpets (chs. 8-9), bowls (chs. 15-16), and the lake of fire (20:11-15)
Salvation - Jew and Gentile (chs. 7; 14; 19:1-10)
Restoration - new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem; all free from sin (chs. 21-22).
2. He is Lord History over Heaven’s problem (5:2-4)
2. He is Lord History over Heaven’s problem (5:2-4)
The word "worthy" is important, as it appears four times in the text
3. He is Lord of history because He is powerful (5:5)
3. He is Lord of history because He is powerful (5:5)
Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Application
1. God has a clear plan for history and its culmination. It is pre-determined, set, and will not fail.
We cannot save ourselves either. we need to look to Jesus for salvation.
Who is able to do what cannot be done in your life and the life after this? Jesus
Transition: He is the Lord of History as seen in the Old Testament prophecies,
Seen as the only one in Heaven, earth and under the earth worthy in righteousness, power and deity to open the scroll and break the seal
He is the Lord of Victory (5:6-7)
He is the Lord of Victory (5:6-7)
Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.
He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
John takes his time in building up the suspenseful narrative. However, we are not let down by what unfolds.
The Bible tells us 5 reasons we know Jesus is victorious
1. He was victorious because He was Slaughtered (5:6).
1. He was victorious because He was Slaughtered (5:6).
The term Lamb (Gk arnion) is a unique word that appears 29 times in Revelation and just once outside the book (John 21:15).
According to Mounce, it is exclusively used to describe the resurrected and triumphant Christ (Revelation, 132n18).
In the Bible, the theme of the lamb plays an important role in the grand redemptive story. For instance, in
Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.
God promises to provide a lamb for a burnt offering. Similarly, in
You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats.
The Passover lamb must be without blemish.
Isaiah 53:7 describes the suffering servant of the Lord as being led to the slaughter like a lamb.
Finally, John the Baptist declares in John 1:29 that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
All of these prophecies and proclamations find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is both a victorious warrior and a sacrificial lamb.
Application
He is supreme because he suffered.
2. He was victorious because He is Standing (5:6)
2. He was victorious because He is Standing (5:6)
The term "Slaughtered" refers to the death of Jesus, while "Standing" denotes his resurrection. The word "Standing" is in the perfect tense, indicating that the resurrection is permanent.
3. He was victorious because He is still Strong (5:6)
3. He was victorious because He is still Strong (5:6)
It's important to remember that the phrase "He had seven horns" should be interpreted symbolically,
We are not wanting to scare kids here.
In the context of apocalyptic literature, the number seven represents perfection, while horns symbolize power and strength. So when taken together, the phrase means that He has perfect strength, is all-powerful, and is omnipotent.
4. He was victorious because He is still Searching (5:6)
4. He was victorious because He is still Searching (5:6)
The Lamb is described as having "seven eyes," which symbolize wisdom and knowledge. With the number seven representing perfection, we can understand that the Lamb has perfect knowledge and is all-knowing, or omniscient. These "seven eyes" are also referred to as the "seven spirits of God sent out in all the earth" (as described in 1:4).
John MacArthur
“While there is only one Holy Spirit of God, the number seven emphasizes the completeness and fullness of the Spirit, who is present throughout the earth.”
This highlights the Spirit's omnipresence.
This description affirms the Lamb's deity, as only God can be all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere.
5. He was victorious because He is still Sovereign (5:7)
5. He was victorious because He is still Sovereign (5:7)
"The Lamb approached and retrieved the scroll from the Father's right hand who was seated on the throne."
This task can only be performed by THE Lamb and no one else even tries to do it.
John Piper highlights that
“the Lion triumphs through the strategies of the Lamb... Since Jesus is both Lion-like and Lamb-like, He can conquer the world for His name's glory and His people's benefit."
Someone once wrote a play on a popular kids song:
God’s Perfect Lamb
Mary had a little Lamb,
His soul was white as snow.
And anywhere His Father sent,
the Lamb was sure to go.
He came to earth to die one day,
the sin of man to atone.
And now He reigns in heaven alone,
He’s the Lamb upon the throne
Application
1. Jesus is our victory. If we want victory over sin in our life we need Jesus.
He alone can save us from a Holy judgment that results in eternity in hell.
He enables us to over come sin, anxiety, fear, depression, addiction by giving us His Spirit who empowers us to look forward with hope and not backward to discouragement.
2. In His victory we can have certainty.
Certainty that He will fulfill what is written to come. He can bring us salvation now and then.
Illustration (Build up):
What do you give someone who has everything?
Christmas
In society we want to give… gratitude acts of service or kindness.
What is the right gift to give Jesus?
Who, was compelled by love for you, left heaven...
Forfeit His power as God to dwell on earth
Was rejected by the world (and us)
Was betrayed, beaten and crucified giving us forgiveness for our sins
Then was raised back to life so that we could have eternal life in Him.
And will one day judge all that was ever evil in this world.
Then once and for all remove all sin and place us in eternal bliss with him.
What gift do you give in return for such a service to us...
What do you give Jesus who has everything?
You give Him the gift of you.
You respond to His love and grace by praising him and loving him with all your…
Transition: Which is exactly what we see happening in our text.
He is the Lord of Glory (5:8-14)
He is the Lord of Glory (5:8-14)
In heaven, the blood of the Lamb is celebrated!
It is not considered a source of shame.
Singing about it is a beloved activity, as evidenced by the three hymns introduced in verses 8-14.
1. He is praised by the Saints (5:8-10)
1. He is praised by the Saints (5:8-10)
When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.
A new song, called the "Song of Redemption,"
is being sung to praise the Lamb who is
declared worthy of taking the scroll and opening its seals. This is because of four reasons:
1, because the Lamb was slaughtered;
2, because the Lamb redeemed people for God by shedding His blood;
3, because the Lamb has ransomed people from every tribe, language, people, and
nation.
4, because the Lamb has made the saints a kingdom and priests to our God.
As royalty, we get to
reign with Him, and as priests, we serve his cause- It’s no surprise
that the Lamb is so loved, adored, and praised by the saints.
2. He is praised by all Angels (5:11-12)
2. He is praised by all Angels (5:11-12)
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.
They said with a loud voice: The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!
During the worship, the angels joined in and were not just sitting on the sidelines.
The angels blessed the Lamb seven times, signifying perfection.
The Lamb, who was sacrificed, is worthy of power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. We can't give Him the first four, but we can acknowledge that He possesses them in all their fullness and perfection.
Application
1. We can glorify Him and give Him honor and bless Him.
How you ask?
The Greek word for blessing is "eulogia," which means "a good word."
2. We can continue to talk about Jesus to others and say good things about Him as long as we have breath.
3. We can also share the gospel and witness to others about Him.
After all, we tend to talk about what we love.
3. He is praised by all Creation (5:13-14)
3. He is praised by all Creation (5:13-14)
Revelation 5:13–14 (HCSB)
I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
The Lamb's redeeming work is now being praised by all of creation.
Blessing: Worship petition
Honor: Value from good reputation.
Glory: good opinion
Dominion: Controlling authority
This is because creation itself desires to be freed from the bondage of corruption.
Longing instead to live life worshipping, Jesus, living according to will, always seeing His ways as good and surrendering their will to his authority.
[Worship team up]
Closing
John hears a doxology from every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and every tribe, nation and tongue building in praise and worship...
Why?
Because Jesus is the Victory.
1. He is the Lion and Lamb; worthy to be praised
2. The Only WAY to enter heaven.
3. He is the sovereign King, who is
4. A friend to sinners.
Closing
We fear what we are not ready for, what we cannot anticipate.
Jesus has made a way for you to have assurance and hope for your future through faith not fear.