Tuesday, April 19, 2016
THE LAMB ON THE THRONE WILL SHEPHERD THEM (2)
Revelation 7:9-10 After these things I looked and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
SALVATION BELONGS TO ... THE LAMB?!
Earlier in our chapter John had been given a vision of the church on earth. Here, though, the vision is a triumphant view of heaven--a triumph due to...a lamb?!
A recent letter to the editor of the iconic pictorial Country Living magazine inquired whether it is okay to take a lamb as a pet. "Sure," was the reply, "but it's best to have at least two since sheep are herd animals and won't thrive without a companion" (preferably two females, so the pets don't multiply).
Okay then, but why out of all the animals was a "sweet and cuddly, weak and humble" lamb chosen to portray God's Son? The answer to that question encompasses the whole Christian gospel.
In Old Testament days the LORD had directed that lambs "without blemish and without spot" be sacrificed as sin-offerings. When John, the forerunner, cried, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!", he was saying that Jesus was the One prefigured by all those slaughtered lambs.
Isaiah had prophesied, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all...He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not his mouth" (53:6f).
With the willing sacrifice of Himself, Jesus gained forgiveness of sins for all. How fitting that the heavenly multitude delights in shouting: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Ten thousand times ten thousand In sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints Throng up the steeps of light.
'Tis finished, all is finished, Their fight with death and sin;
Fling open wide the golden gates And let the victors in.
Bring near Thy great salvation, Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect, Then take Thy pow'r and reign.
Appear, Desire of nations; Thine exiles long for home.
Show in the heav'ns Thy promised sign; Thou Prince and Savior, come!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 476:1, 4)
