The Lamb Of God

THE LAMB OF GOD

Have you ever thought about why the Lord Jesus was referred to as the Lamb of God? It was because HE was JEHOVAH GOD ALMIGHTY’S Sacrifice for all mankind’s sin.

Today’s text is found in Revelation 5:1-14 and we’ll read it shortly

There’s much that could be said to do with the depths of this chapter, but what we want to think on primarily is –the LAMB OF GOD—

The Lord Jesus is the key person in the history of the world. Hundreds of years before He was born into Planet Earth His coming had been foretold as having a great destiny.

Isaiah, (9:6). 6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace

But perhaps the most precious name is that announced by John the Baptist when he caught sight of Jesus coming towards him at the River Jordan. He was inspired to cry out,

(John 1:29). “29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Names in the Scriptures often have a greater significance than nowadays. When we choose a name for a child nowadays it often will have a family connection, or maybe we might think it’s fashionable.

But in Bible times, names had a deeper and more personal meaning. They would often give a hint of a person’s character, his or her nature, capability and destiny. This is certainly the case in the names given to Jesus, and no more so than in the name, “The Lamb of God.”

To get the full meaning of the name we have to turn to the book of the Revelation. It’s an amazing, record of visions seen by the apostle John.

It’s a series of colorful pictures accompanied by sounds, voices and songs.

But I want us to think primarily on, “The Lamb.” It’s the title, which dominates Revelation. The book is a sequence of scenes moving towards the final triumph of “the Lamb” in spite of the forces of violence unleashed against Him and His followers.

Chapter 5 reveals the triumph of good over evil and what it means to God’s creation.

1And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne (the Father)

a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?”

3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5And one of the elders saith unto me, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David,[ The designation of Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David directly relate Him to Israel] hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”

6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

[. Notice that the Lion is the Lamb (cf. Jn 1:29, 36). He will always bear the wounds of His suffering and death in His glorified, resurrected body. He overcame as a Lamb (cf. Isa 53:7

He now sits at the right hand of the Father (cf. Heb 1:3), but in that day He will stand.

A Lamb as it had been slain. He was slain but is alive now forever.

The seven horns point to His fullness of power (cf. Ps 89:17, 24); the seven eyes speak of complete wisdom (cf. Zech 4:10), a characteristic of the fullness of the HOLY SPIRIT, which was uniquely His.

Thus, the Lamb’s three qualifications are: (1) He was sacrificed for man’s sins; (2) He has all power to overcome every foe; and (3) He enjoys all wisdom and intelligence to foresee and oversee.

7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of HIM that sat upon the throne.

.8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

9And they sung a new song, saying,”Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth”