Good morning. As we read the 5th chapter of Revelation God shares with us a powerful moment that impressed His chosen scribe, the apostle John. In John’s vision of heaven, the moment had come for the triumphant opening of “The Great Scroll” which was sealed with seven mighty seals. The opening of this scroll would mean the ushering in of God’s salvation of mankind, the pronouncement of His absolute victory, a victory even over death itself. But as we read John’s words, we see that there was a terrible problem. Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Revelation 5:1-4
It is striking to consider that there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who was able to open the scroll. This reality causes John to break down. We read of John, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. This word for weeping is the one that shares the image of a giant wave crashing uncontrollably against the shore. But his weeping is premature: And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Just as was true for every faithful Jew, John had been raised with an expectation of the Messiah of God. The prophecies of the Messiah most treasured were those who referred to Him as “the Lion of Judah.” For it was the Lion who would come to bring victory. It was the Lion who would be their hero. It was the Lion who would be worthy before God to defeat every enemy and save God’s people. We can imagine that John looked anxiously for that Lion. But what does he see? And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain… John does not see the Lion he sees the other image of the Messiah carried forward in the prophecies. He sees the Lamb. He sees the Lamb of sacrifice. He see the Lamb whose blood would take away the sins of the world.
We are quick to join John in his joy in seeing the Lamb who is worthy. We are ready to embrace His healing and forgiving power. We are ready to claim the blood and find righteousness. But what have we to do with the Lion?
Have we “declawed” the Lion of Judah? Have we endeavored to tame Him in order to bring Him under our own control? Are we so anxious to focus on the “meek and mild” Savior who is our sacrificial Lamb that we forget Him in the awesome truth of His glory and His power?
This, the Lion of Judah, is the Messiah who says to us that He is the only way to God the Father. This, the Lion of Judah, is the Messiah who tells us that to truly love Him we must eagerly obey Him. This, the Lion of Judah, is the Messiah whose voice is the voice of God proclaiming that there is salvation waiting for those who belong to Him, and horrific condemnation for any who deny and refuse Him.
Yes, Jesus is the Lamb of God. But let us never forget that He is also the Lion of Judah and that He will never allow any force in all of creation to deny Him his power, or to attempt to remove His claws.
Praise God for Jesus, our Messiah, our Lion and our Lamb!
Vern