JESUS THE LAMB AND THE LION
Text: Revelation 5:4-12
Introduction
1. 60 years!
2. Pause.
3. It seemed hard to believe. But, it had been 60 years since that fateful day When John the son on Zebedee a man who ran a fishing business on the Sea of Galilee had first been called by Jesus to be one of his twelve apostles.
Matthew 4:18-22 (ESV) 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
4. Who would have ever guessed that it would last more than 60 years?
5. The apostle John is between 85 and 95 now as be begins to write what would become 1st John.
6. His brother James had been the first apostle to be martyred. The Apostles were all gone now except for him and persecution was moving his way.
7. How does he begin what, for all he knows could be the last inspired letter the be added to the Holy Bible?
8. We know the purpose of his letter.
1 John 1:4 (ESV) 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
1 John 2:1 (ESV) 1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 5:13 (ESV) 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
9. How can the people he is writing to know for sure?
10. Persecution is on the rise.
11. John will be imprisoned in a cave on the island of Patmos.
12. The events of Jesus’ life happened 60 years ago.
13. And so He picks up his quill and begins to offer courage and bravery for challenging times.
Discussion:
I. The Basis of our confidence
A. Open your Bibles and read along with me.
B. Exposition of 1 John 1:1-10
C. He is saying you have not seen him but you have the eye witness testimony of the Apostles who died standing for the truth of their thestimon.
D. I John Walked the dusty roads of Palestine.
II. Jesus the Lamb of God.
A. I saw him the Lamb of God
Revelation 5:12 (ESV) 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
B. I saw the Lamb of God:
1. Bless the little children
2. Cleanse the Lepers
3. Heal the sick
4. Weep at the grave side of friend Lazarus as he saw the sisters mourn.
5. Raise the dead
6. Submit to a mockery of a trial, the humiliation and death of the cross to die a lamb slain for our sins.
III. Jesus the Lion of Judah
A. Jesus is not just the Meek Lamb of God.
B. There was another side to him.
C. Jesus was not the weak almost effeminate person pictured by so many artists.
D. He labored for the first 30 years of his life as a carpenter.
E. Ancient artist rederings of carpenters depicted them as men with powerful builds
F. Carpentry was no occupation for a girly man.
1. This was in an age when there were now power tools,
2. There was no electricity, battery packs, no steam power, no 2 cycle engines,.
3. The hammers the awls, the adses the hand planes all required great stengthe and stamina.
G. John said I saw the Lion of Judah:
1. Silence the scoffers and scholars
2. Stand down the political leaders and call them hypocrites.
3. Fashion a whip and run the money changers out of the Temple – not once but twice.
4. Of his own free will submit to a scourging that frequently killed week men.
H. I saw the earth quake that the rocks rend ad he crushed the Devils head and tore open the gates of Hades and ascended to heaven.
I. I saw him seated at the right hand of the God of heaven.
J. I saw him through the eye of prophecy sitting on the throne of judgment as strong men threw themselves prostrate before him in terror confessing to late the Jesus is more than a lamb he is the kings and the lord of Lords.
K. I saw him as he pronounced depart from me you workers of lawlessness I never knew you.
L. Is he your King?
The Bible says Jesus is to be my King
My King was born king
He is the king of righteousness
He is the king of the ages
He is the king of Heaven
He is the king of glory
He is the sovereign king
He is the king of kings and the Lord of Lords
That’s my king
No means of measure can delineate his limitless love
He’s the centerpiece of civilization.
He discharges our debts.
delivers the captives.
defends the feeble.
He is enduringly strong.
entirely sincere
eternally steadfast
He’s immortally graceful.
imperially powerful.
impartially merciful.
He’s indescribable.
incomprehensible.
invincible.
irresistible.
He’s the sinner’s savior
He’s unique.
unparalleled.
unprecedented.
That’s my King.
He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of history
He’s God’s son
He’s honest.
He’s supreme.
He’s pre-eminent.
He’s the loftiest life in literature.
He’s the highest personality in philosophy.
He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology.
He is the only one qualified to be an all sufficient savior
He sympathizes and saves
He supplies strength to the weak
He heals the sick.
He cleansed the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He blesses the young.
He uplifts the unfortunate.
attends the aged.
rewards the righteous
defends the diligent and
He is the foundation of the faith
He beautifies the meek.
Do you know Him?
My King is the key of knowledge.
the wellspring of wisdom.
the doorway of deliverance.
the pathway of peace.
the roadway of righteousness.
the highway of holiness.
the gateway to glory.
the master of the mighty.
the captain of the conquerors.
the head of the heroes.
the overseer of the overcomers.
the prince of princes.
He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.
His office is omnipotent
His Goodness is great
His mercy is measureless
His love is limitless
His grace is amazing
The heavens of heavens cannot contain Him,
And uninspired man cannot explain Him.
You might get Him out of your mind.
You can’t get Him off of your hands.
You can’t outlive Him
and you can’t live without Him.
The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him,
but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Death couldn’t deal with him
The grave couldn’t keep its grip on Him.
That’s my King..
He always has been and He always will be.
He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor.
There was nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him.
You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign.
That’s my King!
All real eternal power belongs to him
People are talking about black power, white power and green power
But his power is the eternal power of almighty God.
Conclusion:
1. And some day you will meet him face to face.
2. Will you meet him as the Lamb of God who died for you sins
3. Or the Lion of Judah who rules against injustice?
Sermon History:
12-30-2012 AM Waterford Church of Christ
David E. Parks
