Revelation Sermon - 13

Revelation: Look! A Lion?

Revelation 5:1-14

1. Introduction – Though this isn’t a traditional Easter Sunday passage – it is absolutely appropriate for us to study it on Easter Sunday.

a. This passage goes beyond the events of the empty tomb in the garden and points us towards the victory that was won on that first Easter weekend.

i. Last week, we studied Revelation 4 – an epic vision of the heavenly throne room. And remember that last week I said we won’t go astray if we focus on what John focused on.

1. The throne. John was so captivated by the throne and the One sitting on the throne. We looked at what was going on all around the throne.

b. Well, the same is true this week. We won’t go astray if we look where John looked – focus on what John focused on.

i. Last week we heard, “Look! A throne!” this week we hear, “Look! A lion!” But what we see when we look is something altogether different.

1. But before we see what John saw, a little bit of background will help us make better sense of this chapter.

2. Background – First, remember the setting. Chapters 4&5 belong together. So the background is the throne room of God – the background is the heavenly worship of the Holy, Lord God Almighty.

a. John is looking at the throne and the One on the throne and he sees something – a scroll covered with writing in God’s right hand.

i. The scroll has been variously identified as the Scripture, the book of life or simply a legal document.

1. But most likely this scroll represents God’s plan to save and judge the world.

a. It is a plan that is quite literally about to unfold – as the rest of Revelation will detail for us.

b. The scroll is sealed with 7 seals. 7 being the number of completeness meaning it is complete in its content and completely sealed from human eyes.

i. So naturally a call goes out – a call to the entire universe – “Who can break the seals and open the scroll? Who is worthy enough to reveal God’s plan to save the righteous and judge the wicked?

1. The call goes out – and there is absolute silence in response.

a. Who can open it? The answer comes back – no created being.

i. And at the response of silence, John begins to weep, because it seems that, for a moment, the plan of God is about to be thwarted.

1. No created being, not even the powerful heavenly angel is worthy to open and unfold God’s plan.

c. At that, John weeps bitterly. But then, one of the heavenly elder steps forward and points John’s gaze in a different direction. He shows John the one who IS worthy.

i. The elder says to John. “Look! A Lion!” A lion from Judah’s tribe. And for the rest of the chapter, the lion from Judah’s tribe is praised and worshipped because he is worthy.

1. What a magnificent image. Lions are such majestic creatures. Beautiful, strong, graceful. Is there a better animal to represent God and his work than a Lion?

d. So, try to image John’s shock and dismay when he looks for a lion and all he sees is a lamb.

i. Now, as John looks, he notices a few things about this lamb – all of them together making for an incredible image.

1. In the Greek language, there are two words translated ‘lamb.’ The word amnos refers to an adult sheep.

a. It’s the word John the Baptist used when he said, “Behold the lamb of God…

2. The second word is the word arnion and it means little lamb… and it’s the word that is used here.

a. John is looking for a lion…but what he sees is a lamb…a little lamb at that.

ii. But the image goes on even further because this lion who is actually a little lamb also appears to be slaughtered.

1. He’s looking for a lion, but what he sees is a little, slaughtered lamb. And it’s beautiful.

e. The image of the Lion and the Lamb is the perfect blend of two prophecies. One from Genesis 49 where Jacob blesses his son Judah…

i. And one from Isaiah 53 – where its prophesied that the Messiah will be led like a lamb to its slaughter. What a glorious image.

f. And as John stares at the Lamb, he notices a couple features. Seven eyes and seven horns. What are these all about?

i. Remember 7 is the number of completeness and wholeness. So what do the eyes and horns represent? Complete what?

1. Well, eyes represent wisdom. So, the lamb has seven eyes meaning this little lamb is completely wise.

a. And horns are a picture of strength. Seven horns mean that this Lamb is completely and perfectly strong.

i. This little, slaughtered looking Lamb is the perfection and essence of wisdom and power.

1. And we are that that this little slaughtered looking Lamb with 7 eyes and 7 horns is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll…and indeed, he is.

3. Why he is worthy – And for a few minutes – let’s focus on why this little slaughtered looking lamb is worthy.

a. Did you hear the reason the elder gave? Hear it again…” He has won the victory. Pay attention to two words… “Has won.” Past tense – meaning that the victory has already happened. It has already been secured.

i. And let’s reflect on how the victory was won. Was the victory secured by acting like a lion? By roaring and strutting and acting powerfully?

1. No – victory was won by being like a Lamb led to its slaughter.

a. The Lamb overcomes not by acting in power and strength but by sacrificing himself.

b. And even in this heavenly throne room scene, we are reminded that God doesn’t use what this world would consider strength and wisdom to accomplish his purposes.

i. He could have acted with the strength of a lion, but he chose the act like a Lamb instead – a self-sacrificing Lamb.

ii. Look at the song of the living beings and elders. “You are worthy?” Why? “Because you’re majestic and powerful like a lion?”

1. No – You are worthy to break the seals and open the scroll because you were led like a lamb to its slaughter.

a. And there you ransomed, purchased, redeemed a people – a kingdom of priests – for God.

c. It wasn’t through force or coercion that the victory was won, and people redeemed. It was through sacrificial love.

i. The Lamb is worthy because he has already won the victory.

4. Where is the Lamb – Next, focus on where the Lamb is.

a. Did you catch where the Lamb is? Most English translations say, “in the midst’ or ‘in between.”

i. But the Greek phrase used here are the words en meso…any clue what the mean?

1. Would it help if I told you we’ve seen this phrase before? Where, you ask… in Revelation 1:13.

a. Where was Jesus standing when John say him Revelation 1??? Three glorious words, remember? In the middle…

i. There Jesus was en meso luxnion…in the middle of the lampstands or in the middle of the churches.

b. But here – maybe even more glorious than that picture is the one here in Revelation 5 where the Lamb is standing en meso throno… in the middle of, not just in the middle of the living beings and elders…

i. But in the middle of the throne itself. But let’s take it even further because last week we spent the whole sermon looking at God who is sitting on the throne in heaven.

1. How can it be that the Lamb is in the middle of the throne while God is sitting there?

a. But the Lamb is praised because he too, is not just sitting on the throne, but he is in the middle of the throne.

i. And if God is seated on the throne, and the Lamb is in the middle of the throne than that must mean that Lamb is at the centre…at the heart of God.

c. At the very centre, in the middle of God is the slaughtered looking little Lamb. Think about…

i. When the Lamb came to earth, when the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world came to earth at Christmas…

1. When the Lamb was lead to his slaughter at Easter… this is where he came from – from the very centre of God.

a. And what we’re told in Revelation 5 is that the Lamb is once again in the middle.

d. The Lamb looked slain, but he is alive – living in the middle of the throne.

i. That is where he came from and that is where he now resides.

5. Who is the Lamb? – And so, I’ll ask a question with an obvious answer…Who is this Lamb?

a. Who is the Lamb worthy to break the seal and open the scroll? None other that the crucified and resurrected Jesus.

i. And what we have in this chapter is a clear demonstration of the deity of Jesus.

1. We spent last week studying how awesome and powerful God is…that God alone is worthy of our worship.

a. But here, in Revelation 5 – it tells us that the Lamb, that Jesus – along with the Holy Spirit, is also worthy of our praise devotion.

b. It’s mind boggling to think that Jesus, the Lamb, one with the Father, would leave his place in the middle of the throne…

i. To come to earth as a baby, to ultimately be rejected and killed and it is through those acts that humanity is redeemed.

1. In our hearts we may cry, “Foolishness!” But as we’ve seen already God uses the weak to accomplish his purposes.

a. He could have roared like a lion to redeem is people – but instead he acted like self-sacrificial lamb.

c. It’s mind boggling to think that Jesus would leave his place in the middle to come to earth to die for us.

i. But that’s what he did. And Revelation 5 along with Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20 tell us that the Lamb – though appearing slain and still bearing the marks of his death – is not dead.

1. He is alive and is once again in the middle of the throne and he is indeed worthy of our praise.

6. Application – And for us today we need to keep the worship going.

a. Did you see the ever-widening circle of praise for the Lamb?

i. The Lamb took the scroll from God’s right hand and the 4 living beings and the 24 elders fell down and worship. They sang a new song.

1. And then, the angels joined the chorus. John says there were thousands and millions of voices who were so awestruck by the Lamb that they couldn’t contain themselves.

a. So along with the 4 living beings and 24 elders were the countless angelic voices singing, “Worthy is the Lamb.

i. But it doesn’t stop there! Because in verse 13 the circle of praise gets even bigger.

1. Now John says he hears every creature in heaven, on earth and under the earth adding their voices to the choir.

a. Along with the countless angels, the 24 elder sand the 4 living beings – all creation sings this song to the Lamb.

b. And the circle of praise has to continue with us. And when we hear this and picture this in our minds – doesn’t it move you?

i. If it doesn’t inspire you to worship…if it doesn’t get your overjoyed with who Jesus is, I don’t know what will.

1. Because hearing these songs of the heavenly beings and all of creation should inspire us in our own worship.

a. It has to! Think of the great songs that find their inspiration in these 2 chapters.

i. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty…all the saints adore thee…casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea.

1. Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his thrown.

b. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, holy holy is he!

i. Worthy is the Lamb, seated on the throne, we crown you now with many crows, you reign victorious. High and lifted, Jesus Son of God.

1. We fall down, we lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus…the greatness of his mercy and love and we cry holy holy holy is the lamb.

c. Whoa! Don’t let the worship stop with you! If you don’t worship, the rocks are waiting to take your place…don’t let them. Think about the words you are singing. Think about the one being praised through these words.

1. Honour, glory, power, blessing – to whom??? To the one who sits on the throne – to God Almighty. AND to the Lamb – Jesus who paid the price for our sins and was raised victorious on the third day.

a. Jesus, worthy to open the scroll but he is also worthy of your most passionate, heartfelt and exuberant praise.

d. And quickly this morning, know that because of the work of Jesus we operate from victory, not towards it.

i. It’s not that as God’s people and as a church we must work in order to attain the victory for God.

1. NO! the victory has already been won! So, we work from a place of victory – not to attain it.

a. In his death and resurrection, Jesus secured the victory of God over evil.

i. But while the victory is secured, we are still waiting for God to fully and finally judge and wipe out evil.

ii. But as God’s people and as a church, knowing this must give us the utmost confidence in who we are.

1. We aren’t some lowly and weak and powerless entity – we are God’s people, bought with a price – working from a place of victory.

7. Conclusion – I said at the beginning of this series that Revelation gives us the clearest picture of Jesus as he is right now.

a. Do you see him? Do you see him? Do you see the Lamb who was slain but lives?

i. Do you see your Saviour at the heart of God? Do you see him high and lifted up?

b. I hope this chapter has enhanced your vision of Jesus. Worthy of all the praise you can give him because he has won the victory and ransomed us for God through his death and resurrection.

i. And now, he is sitting with the Lord God Almighty on the Throne – where he will reign forever and ever. Amen.