Behold the Lamb Who Was Slain
From the Failed Vineyard to the Victorious Lamb
Introduction: Heaven’s Centrepiece
Have you ever wondered what captivates heaven’s attention? In Revelation 5, John lifts the veil and shows us a vision that every eye in the universe turns toward. Not a throne, not angels, not majestic power—but a Lamb, standing, yet slain. This is Jesus, the One who paid the ultimate price for our redemption. Today, as part of our Discipleship: Following Jesus series, we will explore what it means to follow this Lamb who reigns because He bled.
We will journey together through three key movements:
1. The vision of the Lamb in Revelation 5:6–10, exploring the Greek terms that reveal His sacrificial victory and eternal authority.
2. The failure of Israel, the vineyard, in Isaiah 5, demonstrating why humanity desperately needed a Redeemer and the foreshadowing of Christ.
3. The victory and redemptive work of Christ, applied to our lives today, showing us how to live as faithful disciples who follow the Lamb.
Our aim is to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, respond in repentance and faith, and embrace His call to discipleship in the 21st century.
1. The Vision of the Slain Lamb (Revelation 5:6–10)
John paints a breathtaking picture of the Lamb:
“Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among him. Each one had a harp and gold bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals, because you were slaughtered, and with your blood you purchased for God people from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have appointed them to be a kingdom of priests who serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’” (Revelation 5:6–10, NLT)
“Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered” – The Greek term asmos (slaughtered) captures the depth of sacrifice. This is not a mere casualty but a deliberate, redemptive act. The Lamb’s standing posture shows triumph—death did not have the final word. He is both victim and Victor, a paradox that reveals God’s mysterious wisdom.
Seven horns and seven eyes – The horn is a biblical symbol of power (see Psalm 89:17). Seven, the number of divine completeness, tells us that Christ’s authority is total. The “seven eyes” symbolize perfect knowledge, the Spirit sent to equip Him to accomplish God’s redemptive plan.
Took the scroll from the right hand of the One on the throne – In the ancient world, the right hand symbolized power and authority. Jesus is the only one worthy to execute God’s plan for redemption. He is not a passive observer but the active fulfiller of God’s eternal purpose.
Discipleship begins by recognising who Jesus is: the Lamb who was slain yet now reigns. In 21st-century terms, we cannot follow a powerless or irrelevant Christ. The world may offer us ideas of strength, influence, or success—but only the slain-and-risen Lamb redeems, transforms, and empowers.
Consider a modern surgeon. On the operating table, the patient is helpless, dependent on skill and mercy. The Lamb on the throne is our ultimate Surgeon—He brings life where death was certain.
John Piper: “Jesus died so that we might live, and He lives so that we might reign.”
Church, life and authority flow from the cross. To follow the Lamb is to embrace both His sacrifice and His victory.
2. The Failed Vineyard (Isaiah 5:1–7)
Before the Lamb could reign, the vineyard—Israel—failed. Isaiah 5 presents a poignant metaphor:
“I will sing for my beloved a song about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and he planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced only bad ones… Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.” (Isaiah 5:1–4, NLT)
Vineyard (kerem) – Represents God’s people. Planted, tended, and expected to flourish for His glory.
Bad grapes (ra‘) – Moral corruption and covenant unfaithfulness. This Hebrew term denotes not just evil but the active failure to bear what God intended.
The failure of the vineyard shows why humanity needed a Redeemer. God’s patience and care are evident, but His justice requires accountability. Humanity could not produce righteousness on its own; the perfect Lamb was necessary to fulfil the law, bear the penalty of sin, and secure redemption.
Today, many “vineyards”—lives, families, communities—fail to bear spiritual fruit. We chase success, pleasure, or comfort rather than God’s purposes. The cross reminds us that only Christ can transform barrenness into fruitful obedience.
A gardener plants seeds in rich soil, waters them faithfully, yet weeds overtake the growth. Without God’s intervention, effort alone cannot produce lasting fruit. Likewise, discipleship is not self-generated—it is Christ-enabled.
R.T. Kendall: “You can try to live a good life, but only Christ can make it a holy life.”
We are not called to self-help Christianity. The Lamb’s blood alone makes the vineyard fruitful.
3. Victory Through the Slain Lamb
Returning to Revelation 5, the Lamb’s triumph is universal:
“…with your blood you purchased for God people from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have appointed them to be a kingdom of priests who serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:9–10)
Redemption by blood – Salvation is costly. Christ bore the punishment for sin; nothing else suffices.
Universal scope – The gospel transcends race, culture, and geography. The church is a kingdom of priests, called to intercede and serve.
Kingdom reign – Our discipleship has eternal impact. Following Jesus now is preparation for reigning with Him.
Purchased (agorazo) – A marketplace term. Believers are bought at a price; the cost was the Lamb’s life.
Priests (hierateuo) – Not just ceremonial but relational and intercessory, calling others to know God.
Commit daily to follow the Lamb—through prayer, obedience, and love.
Engage in God’s mission, making disciples across divides of culture, language, and status.
A soldier trains rigorously, not for personal glory, but to fight in a crucial battle. The Lamb’s followers are enlisted in God’s eternal mission—prepared to advance His Kingdom.
Charles Stanley: “True greatness is measured by how faithfully you follow Jesus, not by what you achieve for yourself.”
Our calling is not self-promotion but faithful discipleship under the slain and risen King.
Gospel-Centred Invitation
Church, the Lamb’s victory is our victory—but only through faith. The cross is not a story to admire; it is the pathway to life. Repent of sin, believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and receive the gift of eternal life. His resurrection power is available to transform every failure into fruitfulness, every barrenness into blessing.
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, NLT)
Call to Discipleship
1. Recognise the Lamb – Understand who Jesus is and what He has done.
2. Repent and Trust – Turn from sin; place faith in Christ alone.
3. Follow Daily – Obedience, prayer, and witness.
4. Bear Fruit – Engage in God’s mission, serving and interceding.
Conclusion: From Slain to Standing
The Lamb who was slain is the Lamb who reigns. He transforms failure into fruitfulness, sorrow into joy, death into eternal life. Let us live ready to follow Him—aware of His sacrifice, empowered by His Spirit, and committed to His Kingdom.
Benediction: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, NLT)
