Worthy is the Lamb

Dear worshipers of the resurrected and living Lord Jesus,

     Have you ever heard somebody say, “I didn’t get anything out of church today?” What if I said, “I don’t care if you didn’t get anything out of church today?” Have I all of a sudden become a lazy pastor and becoming indifferent to my sermon preparation?   On the contrary! The problem is that we can become so self-centered that everything has to center around me, and what I like, and what makes me feel good. Then going to church is only about me, and about how it makes me feel. 

     So my question today is, “what did Jesus get out of your coming to church today?” What good was your worship, praise and prayers this morning for Jesus? What did Jesus experience from your attitude and actions this morning in church? The truth of the matter is that both count. You need to hear the truth of God’s word for your personal life and how you live. But I have to warn you about being selfish and self focused, so that your worship is not the worst thing Jesus ever experiences. Our text today takes us to the throne room of heaven. It is an awesome scene. The focus of all the worship centers on what Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection.   We are not the important people in the scene…rather it is Jesus. We would hear those words: “Worthy is the Lamb.” That will set our thoughts with this sermon. 

 

            I. The Big Picture

 

     Last weekend I had the privilege to spend time along the North Shore. One of my favorite spots to visit is Palisades, a high area at the edge of Lake Superior. In the fall when the trees are in their full fall colors, the yellow aspen, the blue waters just an awesome scene. 

Revelation chapters 4 and 5 are really a unit.   Like a mountain top experience so the picture presented is awesome. The focus is all about our God. In chapter four we read:

     Be prepared to have your senses awakened as you enter the vision of heaven. Your eyes will see: A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. (the 12 sons of Jacob and the 12 apostles) They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. [In the Old Testament 7 is connected to the Holy Spirit: The Spirit of the LORD (1) will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom (2) and of understanding (3), the Spirit of counsel (4) and of power (5), the Spirit of knowledge (6) and of the fear of the LORD (7).] (IS. 11:2)

     The vision continues: We behold four creatures, The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

     As the 24 Elders take their crowns and lay them before the throne, they sing: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." So we have the Creator the Father, and the Holy Spirit receiving praise. Then the focus turns to Jesus. 

     The apostle John heard a question that at first brought tears to his eyes: I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" {3} But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. {4} I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. But then he was told, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

      As I started this sermon I took you up on a mountain top to enjoy the view. But there is another joy I would like to share with you. Last weekend Cheri and I also spent an hour walking along the shore bent over staring at rocks, looking for an agate. At first all the stones may look alike. But all of a sudden you can spot an agate there among the many colored rocks. We found half a dozen little gems there on the shore. 

 

      II. The Intricate Detail

 

     As you look at the whole scene of heaven in Revelation chapters four and five it is an awesome scene: Throne of God, 24 elders, the angelic beast… the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. But when you stop and look closely there are also some gems that you would not want to miss. As we turn our focus on Jesus we find him described this way:  {5} Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."  Jesus is described as a triumphant Lion. This picture is really a fulfillment from the first book of the Bible. The man named Jacob, who had twelve sons, calls each one to himself to give them a blessing before he dies. When he calls in Judah, his family is the one from whom Jesus would be born, hear these words: (Gen 49:8-10 NIV) "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. {9} You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse him? {10} The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.   In the vision of heaven now we see Jesus his work of redemption accomplished, death defeated, Satan crushed, sins forgiven, now crowned as the King of kings. He is the one who can open the scroll, for he is the one who rules the future.   All this is in the picture of the Lion.

     The next little gem, Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.   Along with that picture John hears a song, Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain. If someone does not know the story of the Passover lamb, whose blood spared God’s people, they will miss this gem. For Jesus is the Passover lamb sacrificed for us that we would not die but live. He looked slain, but he was upright, standing in the center. 

     What gets him the praise is what he accomplished as the Lamb of God: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." This is why he is called the Redeemer; he bought and paid for us. This is why he deserves the focus of our worship on a Sunday morning. He is worthy of all our praise.

 

III. The Praise of the Lamb

 

{12} In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"  Just remember that when Jesus came to earth all this he gave up for us. But now is his. We hear, power and strength: But Here on earth he did not use his power to get off the cross or his strength to carry the cross. Rather he dropped the cross and collapsed. Then we hear: wealth: we are reminded the birds of the air had nest and foxes had dens, but the son of Man did not have a place to sleep. (2 Cor 8:9 NIV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Next we hear: wisdom: while hear on earth Jesus said about the end of the world, (Mat 24:36 NIV) "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. But now in heaven he is in charge of the future, opening the scroll of what is to come. 

     No wonder he is to receive, honor and glory and praise! No longer cursing and swearing and calls for crucifixion.  Rather than focusing on us, may our hearts, minds and lips join the multitude in heaven and proclaim:  "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" With the elders we say, “Amen.”