Good morning. On the occasion we call the triumphal entry, Jesus entered Jerusalem with thousands of people welcoming Him, shouting “Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” Such statements were fitting to welcome the Messiah of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What wasn’t in keeping with their expectation of greeting the Messiah was how He appeared as He entered the city. It would have been expected that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem as God’s conquering King. As that King, He would arrive riding a white stallion, head held high, sword in hand, a King returning from a victorious battle. Jesus entered the city riding the colt of a donkey. Humility over grandeur. Purpose over posture. Ready to welcome society’s outcasts rather than heads of state. The Lion of Judah is the Lamb of God.
We read in Mark 10:13-16 a passage that tells us about Jesus, the Lamb of God, even though that title isn’t used: People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
His disciples were carried away with the importance of Jesus, what they thought should be considered as His proper “station” in society. Small children were thought of as a nuisance, certainly not worthy of the Master’s time or attention. Wrong. We are told that when He saw what the disciples were doing to keep the children away from Him, He was “indignant.” The Greek word literally means to “stir into a froth.” Jesus wasn’t a little upset, He was genuinely stirred up, put out, and cranky. He didn’t like that attitude at all! This is because Jesus did not “put on airs.” Jesus, who could have appeared as a domineering person of great importance, one who was reasonably short on time and patience, was just the opposite. Jesus was humble and tender hearted. The end of the 16th verse is quite wonderful: And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Jesus, with every right to appear as the Lion of Judah, instead reveals His heart to be that of the Lamb of God.
The passage that really cuts to the heart of this topic, that Jesus is always “The Lamb of God,” even when He is acting with great power and authority, comes to us in the Book of Revelation chapter 5. I urge you to read this wonderful chapter, but I will share a bit of its truth. The setting is the apostle John, having been taken to heaven so that he can make a report of the heavenly realm and the battles to come, is witnessing the future. In that moment the great scroll, closed with seven seals, must be opened for mankind to enjoy the ending of God’s plan for their salvation. The scroll must be opened for the plan to move forward. But there is a problem: And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
John is devastated and weeps with a mournful cry. The word used is the same as that for a wave crashing against the shore. He is emotionally destroyed at the prospect that God’s gracious plan is thwarted because there is no created being, none in heaven or on earth, who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. But wait!
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.”
Wait! the angel tells him. The Lion of Judah has conquered. He is worthy! Wonderful news indeed! As John turns to behold the Lion, the conquering hero, the One who alone is worthy, we read: And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain… He expects to see the roaring lion, the image of power, its face snarling in triumph. He does not see such a lion, he sees the Lamb of God.
As we read on, we come to the song of the living being, the elders, and the angels:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:12
Behold, the Lamb of God! In meekness, God’s awesome power is revealed. Appearing as a Lamb, one with no apparent abilities to bring to a conflict, He, The Lamb of God, is victorious! He is worthy! He has won the victory for our salvation!
Consider today the Lamb of God. His sacrifice was one that was made in ultimate power bringing to us the ultimate victory. Behold the Lamb of God!
Vern