WORSHIP THE LAMB OF GOD

“WORTHY is the LAMB who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”– Revelation 5:12b

John the Beloved in his Patmos Vision saw what it means to intensely WORSHIP the LAMB of GOD: “WORTHY is the LAMB who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev.5:12b). The phrase “Lamb of God,” a name given to Jesus in the Bible, is first mentioned in John 1:29, where John the Baptist saw Jesus and declared, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John the Baptist continued to testify about Jesus and concluded: “I have seen and I testified that this is the Son of God.” (Jh.1:34). Every mention of the Lamb of God in Scripture refers to Jesus. 

Jesus as the Lamb of God holds significant meaning. It highlights the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ mission as the Savior of the world. Just as lambs – gentle animals who symbolize purity – were offered as sacrifices in the Old Testament to atone for sins, Jesus served as the Sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity. The “Lamb of God” refers to Jesus as the perfect and ultimate sacrifice provided by God for the atonement of the sins of His people. Relating to Him as the Lamb of God is central to the heart of our faith. It is only by trusting His sacrifice for our sins that we can connect with a holy God. Otherwise, we would perish (Jh.3:16; 2Cor.5:21).

The Lamb of God is incredibly important in expressing the core of our faith. Learning why the Lamb of God is so significant can inspire us with awe and deepen our trust in Jesus. As the One who had prevailed, only the Lamb of God, earlier called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,” is worthy to open the scroll (vv.1-7). This scroll was to reveal the events associated with the consummation of Christ’s work, and also allow these events and consummation to occur. The end result of the scroll’s opening will be the new heaven and earth; hence the great joy in heaven when the Lamb is found worthy to break the seals on the scroll and fervent praise of His name for His worth in both His eternal deity and obedient humanity to enact God’s eternal plan of salvation:

“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (vv.8-10).

Our text describes the worship of the Lamb in heaven. Not only do the four living creatures and twenty-four elders worship Jesus, but so also do “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” – “myriad” of angels, an immense number (v.11). This shows that the Lamb’s worth cannot be quantified. In John’s era, Roman emperors claimed glory for themselves, but the true glory belongs to God and to His Spirit-anointed Lamb. Indeed, every other creature in the universe joined in His Praise: “…I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (v.13).

All creation will worship the Lord Jesus Christ eternally, ascribing to Him all worth and glory. Even now, by our worship, we are beginning this glorification of Christ. The Lamb of God symbolizes Jesus’ sacrificial mission, innocence, purity, and victory over sin and death. As we reflect on the meaning of this Title, may we be inspired by God’s great love for us and the price that Jesus paid to redeem us, to ascribe glory and honour to the Lamb who sits on the throne eternally.