DAY 19

The Lamb Who was Slain – Worthy is the Lamb!

‘Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.’Revelation 5:6-8 (NIVUK)

Reflection

In this moment of triumph, John expects to see a roaring lion, but that is not what he sees. The Lion of Judah [Jesus] is revealed as a Lamb. This is the turning point of heaven’s vision. No one was found worthy to open the scroll until John sees a Lamb, slain but standing, victorious and full of authority.

John describes the Lamb as having seven horns and seven eyes. Horns are a symbol of power and strength. Eyes are a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. There is so much richness in this imagery. The One who is perfectly strong and perfectly wise exercises His strength and wisdom by sacrificing Himself in going to the cross.

This is the remarkable central theme of John’s vision – power through sacrifice, victory through death. Jesus overcomes not by force, but by faithfulness unto death. The wisest in all creation demonstrates the ‘foolishness’ of sacrificial love. This is why He alone is worthy to break the seals of history. This shapes how we overcome, not by fighting as the world fights, but by following the example of Jesus. The Lion triumphed by becoming a Lamb. It's good to remind ourselves what that sacrifice paid for: ‘When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.’ Colossians 2:13-15 (NIVUK)

The cross was not utter defeat, but the ultimate victory in all of history.

Devotional

by Hannah Crowther

 

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