Revelation 5:1-10 – The Way to go Up is Down
I’m sure most of you know what an oxymoron is. It’s a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself. There are lists and lists of the things, and here are some of my favorites: Artificial Grass, boneless ribs, big town, harmless lie, communist party, green oranges, easy labor, fresh frozen, jumbo shrimp, cafeteria food, military intelligence, one choice, random order, slumber party, freezer burn, small fortune, government organization, living dead, same difference, plastic glasses, peace force, pretty ugly, head butt, working vacation, Dodge Ram, work party, healthy tan, good grief, and devout atheist, as well as its sequel, Thank God I’m an Atheist.
Chapter 5 of the book of Revelation gives us another oxymoron. Something that sounds impossible, but yet it is still true. Of course God delights in the impossible, and this chapter is no exception. We see a Lion that is a Lamb. Two very opposite things, but yet in Christ they are the same. Hopefully, we’ll see how it relates to us as well.
The first part of Rev.5 is a picture of heaven. Read v1. God is sitting on a throne, and in His hand is a scroll. Not just any scroll. It was double-sided, and super-sealed. This scroll was full, with room for nothing else to be added. And, it was closed tightly, so that no-one could open it. Most Bible scholars think that this scroll represents God’s plans and purposes for the world. This scroll contains what God wants to see happen, and will see happen. And no-one knows what these plans are. They are sealed. And since the scroll is double-sided, scholars take it to mean that the plans are made in full. Nothing surprises God. So then, these perfect plans and purposes of God, they are complete, and no-one knows what they are.
You know, we wish we knew what God had in store for us. We wish we could see His plans. But as frustrating as that is, be confident in one thing: God knows His plans. He knows what’s in store for us. He can see the beginning from the end. He knows exactly what’s coming up. He knows what He’s doing. Does it sometimes look like He doesn’t? Yes. But take heart – He will reveal Himself to you in due time.
But the problem is, we want to be in control of things. We want to know. We want to be in charge of our own lives. We want to be able to make our own decisions. We want to sit on the throne. But the passage continues: v2-3. None of us here is worthy to be in control of our own destiny. No-one is good enough to be in control. As I’ve said before, I wouldn’t be a very good God. My brain isn’t God-sized. Neither’s yours. None in here is good enough to be in control.
That’s maddening at times. We wish we could just take control of our own lives but we can’t. We mess things up. Whenever we try to take control, we make messes. That’s why peace treaties fail. That’s why marriages fail. That’s why churches split. That’s why there is prejudice and pride, adultery and abortions. Because each of us thinks we can control our own lives and futures. But it just leads to pain and suffering and messes.
And for a moment, even John, the man seeing this vision of heaven, was discouraged. V4. Is no-one in control? Isn’t there someone who can make sense of it? Isn’t there anybody who is good enough to open God’s plans and purposes to us? Can’t somebody take control here? Well, there’s hope. V5. The Lion of Judah can make sense of life. He can put God’s plans into perspective. He can bring order from our messes. He can bring peace into our lives. He can fix the problem. He can overcome the evil in the world. He can roar and bring all things under His control. The Lion, the king of the jungle, can rule this world.
Well, that’s the image of a lion, right? Strong and mighty, roaring and reigning. The phrase, “Lion of Judah”, is a reference to Genesis 49:9 – “You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse him?” And the Root of David come from Isaiah 11:1, saying that the Messiah would come from the family of David, the son of Jesse – “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” So, the book of Revelation takes these 2 pictures from the OT and says that the Messiah would be a strong and powerful king in the line of the best king Israel ever had.
So this conquering King is able to open the scroll and carry out God’s plans on earth because of His strength and power, right? Well, that’s what it sounds like at this point. But here’s where the oxymoron enters the scene. V6. John, fully expecting to see a roaring lion, sees only a bleeting lamb. Not even a full grown sheep, the original language suggests. But a lamb. A lamb looking as if it had been slain, sacrificed, killed. A helpless lamb.
Now, this is an odd picture. A lamb with 7 horns, symbolizing perfect strength, and 7 eyes, symbolizing omniscience. This helpless lamb, perfect in power and knowledge, being worshipped, and then (v7), taking the scroll that only the lion was worthy to open. And the saints and the heavenly creatures fell down in praise of this lamb – v8. Clearly, this lamb was the lion. The conquering Lion of Judah was indeed the sacrificial Lamb of God.
Now, I’ve got a question for you. What was the main problem people had the first time Jesus came to earth? He was a pacifist. He could have overthrown the oppressive Romans, but He didn’t. He chose to use His hands to heal and love. The religious leaders wanted a Lion to come and roar and rule and conquer. But the only time Jesus acted like a lion was when He was confronting the religious leaders. In fact, Jesus rarely showed his lion-side. Mostly, He was a lamb. And to that end He died. He died as a sinless, spotless lamb for our sins. He died in the place of all the OT sacrifices which demanded blood be shed to remove sins. It was His blood. It was His sacrifice. He became the Lamb of God, slain from the foundations of the earth for our sins.
You know, God often does stuff like this. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” That is, what we think is silly or weak is often how God works. He does it to show that His way is higher than ours, His plans are better than ours, and His strength is stronger than ours. God could have sent a conquering Lion; but instead, He chose a sacrificial Lamb.
Because the way to win the world is not through strength but submission. Like the lad sent to the time-out chair in the corner when he said, “I might be sitting down on the outside but I’m standing up on the inside.” A show of strength and authority put him in the corner, but there’s no submission. Strength does not change a person’s heart. But if you could get that person to submit to God, there are no limits to what God can do then. Jesus was worthy to open the scroll, to unfold God’s plans for the world, not by raising His hands in victory over His enemies, but in submission to God. And He was rewarded for His submission, His “yes” to God’s plans. God raised Him up and gave Him the name above all names, which everybody everywhere will bow down towards. Victory comes when you place your life in God’s plans. When you say “yes” to all God has for you. When you trust in his wisdom more than in your own.
One day Jesus will return to earth as the Conquering King. Someday He will bring all of the earth into submission to His plans. But until then, Jesus invades our planet by invading our hearts. I mean, we would love to have Him conquer all the sin “out there” now. To storm in like a Lion and kick all the evil out. But, as the Lamb, He would rather deal with the sin “in here”. His plans for your life include getting you straightened up, getting you submissive to His plans, getting you to say “yes”, and then using you to go out and help defeat the evil, one person at a time. That’s what He died for you for.
But I must say, submission to God is tough. It isn’t easy to put His plans ahead of yours, His priorities ahead of yours, His desires ahead of yours. It isn’t always easy to say “yes”. But let’s look at v9-10. The verses describe the Lamb being worthy to unfold God’s plans because of His submission to God’s plans. This song goes on to say that Jesus has won people because of His shed blood, and then it says that we will reign. Now, I understand this means that we will reign on earth for 1000 years in what we call the Millenium, when Jesus is the King on earth, before moving us all up to heaven.
But you see? God’s plans for us include ruling. It’s in our nature to want to be in charge of something. And so we try to reign ourselves, to rule ourselves, to be in charge of our own lives. But if we would only wait and let God’s plans unfold, we would find a much longer lasting reward. An untainted reward with no lingering guilt or emptiness. A reward that lasts longer than however many years we live on this earth. A reward that will not fade away.
Yet, to win this reward, we must submit to God’s plans. To be humble enough to say, “You know, my will just isn’t as important as God’s. My agenda isn’t as important as God’s. My desires aren’t as important as God’s.” To yield to Him in all things, no matter how good we think our plans are. There’s a story about the captain of a ship, who looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south.” Quickly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.” The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am a captain!” Soon another message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am seaman third class Jones.” Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would cause: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am a battleship.” Then the reply came. “Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am a lighthouse.”
Folks, God is that lighthouse, that stationary object that you need to adjust your life towards. Submit to Him in all things. Allow Him to speak to you. Allow Him to alter your course. Let Him give the directions in your life. Allow Him to conquer you, not because He has the power to do it, but because He laid His life down for you. Allow the Lamb to unfold all of God’s plans for you. Allow Him to wash you and fill you and send you. Seek the higher and greater reward. Become His lamb, sacrificing everything to please Him.
NOTE: In the service, we had 2 specials. "Man of No Reputation" from Rich Mullins’ The Jesus Record, and Twila Paris’ "Lamb of God", album unknown. Lyrics follow.
"Man of No Reputation" – by Rick Elias
It was said this man was of no reputation,
Yet He could stop the rising storm
With a gesture of His hand.
But He chose to use His hands to heal
Hearts of darkness, hearts of stone -
Just like mine would be revealed.
He was a man of no reputation
And by the wise, considered a fool.
When He spoke about faith and forgiveness
In a time when the strongest arms ruled.
But this man of no reputation
Loved the weak with relentless affection
And He loved all those poor in spirit just as they were.
He was a man of no reputation.
It was said this man brought only confusion,
That He’d achieve his ends by any means
And the truth that it brings revolution.
And for once they were right -
The truth set us free.
The hearts of the captive were his only concern,
And the powerful knew their days were ending.
He was a man of no reputation,
And by the wise, considered a fool.
When He spoke about faith and forgiveness
In a time when the strongest arms ruled.
But this man of no reputation
Loved the weak with relentless affection
And He loved all those poor in spirit just as they were -
He was a man of no reputation.
One day soon the gates of heaven will open wide,
And the Prince of Peace will come back for His bride.
But for now we live on these streets,
Forbidding and tough,
Where push always comes to shove,
And it’s said love’s never enough.
Where a prophet in rags gives hope to a fearful world.
No injustice, no heart of darkness
Will keep this voice from being heard.
He was a man of no reputation,
And by the wise, considered a fool.
When He spoke about faith and forgiveness,
In a time when the strongest arms ruled.
But this man of no reputation
Loves us all with relentless affection
And He loves all those poor in spirit, come as you are
To the man of no reputation.
"LAMB OF GOD" – by Twila Paris 1985
Your only Son, no sin to hide, but You have sent Him from Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod and to become the Lamb of God
Your gift of love they crucified; they laughed and scorned Him as He died.
The humble King they named a fraud, and sacrificed the Lamb of God
CHORUS:
Oh, Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God - I love the holy Lamb of God.
Oh, wash me in His precious blood - my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God
I was so lost, I should have died, but You have brought me to Your side
To be led by Your staff and rod and to be called a lamb of God.
Oh, Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God - I love the holy Lamb of God.
Oh, wash me in His precious blood till I am just a lamb of God.
Oh, wash me in His precious blood - my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
