3^rd Sunday of Easter – April 18, 2010

It is Revelation, that profound and imagery filled book, from which God speaks to us this morning. Yet, before diving into the four verses before us, let us get a wide-angled look at what John, the writer of this Revelation, is seeing. After writing the seven letters to the seven churches, John was invited to view God’s throne room in heaven. Here he heard one of the most powerful songs ever sung – not only because of its quality, but also because of the grand occasion which inspired it. It was sung in praise of the Lamb, which is Jesus, because in being slain to redeem mankind he had triumphed over sin, death and the devil. He was worthy to open a scroll which revealed what the future was to be. As the Lamb took the scroll, those around the throne fell down and sang a new song. The throne room resounded with the testimony that the Lamb was worthy to open the scroll. And it is at this point in the vision that our text begins as it records the second and third songs that make up this chapter.

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹² In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” ¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” ¹⁴ The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

The vision that John had seen so far had already presented an unusual, sobering and mind-boggling sight. But now begins a scene and a sound that could perhaps be better described as “breathtaking.” After having caught a glimpse of the Lamb on the throne, John now sees hundreds of thousands of millions of angels. All of them around the throne joined their voices to sing, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.”

We understand just how fitting a hymn of praise this is when we consider our sinful situation. By nature, you and I are gripped in the paralyzing grasp of sin. From the moment of our conception it has us in it’s strangle hold. It pulls and pushes us in every direction so we can satisfy its corrupt cravings and scoff at God while we do it. Its iron grip on us and subsequent results for us can be likened to the eagle of this illustration. One cold winter day the carcass of a sheep was floating along the swift rapids above Niagara Falls. As it bobbed upon the water an eagle swooped down to feed. The eagle was aware of the falls but it had no fear, for when it got to the edge it figured it would lift its powerful wings and fly away in safety. But the eagle had not considered one thing - the paralyzing power of frost. At the last moment it lifted its wings to fly but its feet were frozen to the sheep’s fleece. It went over the falls and was dashed to pieces below.

That is what sin would have done to us if God had not found a way to satisfy his need to punish all sin while at the same time sparing the human race. The only difference would have been that instead of being dashed to pieces at the bottom of Niagara Falls, we would be cast into the fiery pool of hell, separated from God to live out an eternity in a place where there is only weeping and gnashing of teeth.

God did not want the human race, the crown of his creation, to be separated from him forever. So to repair the relationship with his people he devised a magnificent plan where Jesus, the Lamb, would become the object of his wrath and punishment in place of us guilty sinners. And Jesus, God’s Son, agreed! So Jesus humbled himself and became poor, being made lower than the angels, so that he who is true God could also take on human flesh and live, suffer and die. And God’s costly solution effectively gave us what his holiness demanded of us. For on the basis of Christ’s perfect obedience, God declares that we have met his standards; and on the basis of the innocent death Jesus suffered, God has pronounced us forgiven of our sins. Now tell me, is not he, who was willing to be sacrificed in our place, worthy of our devotion?

Merriam-Webster’s Student Dictionary defines devotion as the “state of being ardently dedicated or loyal; to give up to wholly.” That is what Jesus deserves from us! The angels around the throne got it right! “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive…honor and glory and praise!” My friends, it is time for us to join more actively in this hymn of praise. And that is something we do not just do on Sunday mornings. (Although, no doubt, some could use the reminder that God’s Word on Sunday mornings should not be an option for us.) It also includes putting into practice the words the Holy Spirit gave to Paul: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Everything we do; every action we make; every thought we put forth is to reflect this hymn of praise, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.” When I look at my life I see plenty of room for improvement! Wouldn’t you have to agree? In addition, there is this encouragement: “I urge you…in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices…to God” (Romans 12:1). Our bodies go everywhere with us! That means that no matter where we are, Jesus is worthy of having us ask “What can I do for him, not what can I do for me?” Not, “What do I want, but what does he want?” Not, “Do I have time for him, but when will I make time for him today?”

On the basis of Christ’s death for us, there can be no doubt that he is worthy of this hymn of praise. But remember, Jesus didn’t just die, he also rose. Notice carefully the tense of the verb in that sentence, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.” That little word “was” indicates that the Lamb’s work for our salvation is fully accomplished. And what the Lamb accomplished in the past determines what the future holds for believers.

When Jesus came to earth to be our Savior, he did not make full use of the divine power that was his by right. He did not exercise all his strength and wisdom and power that were evident at the creation of the world. He became poor for our sakes, so that through his poverty we might become rich. And because Jesus perfectly did the work his Father set before him; because he remained sinless and holy every day of his life; because he willingly, voluntarily, and obediently suffered all the agony of Good Friday and died on the cross, the Father raised him from the dead. He lifted him up to sit on the throne at his right hand, a position of “power and wealth and wisdom and strength.”

This is how the Father stamped his approval on the work of his Son. This is how he signed the bloody credit card. He exalted his Son to the highest place and gave him a name that is above every name. That’s right. Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. He said it himself. You can’t really describe this very well. It is what it is. But do you get it? Everything belongs to Christ. Everything: power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, praise. You name, he’s got it. And if Christ and his believers are inseparable, then everything that belongs to Christ belongs to the believer. And that’s exactly what Paul says, “[God] raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church” (Ephesians 1:20-22).

So, are you afraid? Don’t be, he will work out all things for your good! Are you anxious for the future? Don’t be, he is in control! Are you troubled or terrified because of persecution, suffering or death? Don’t be! Go, be afraid that the sky is falling down before you fear that Christ lacks the power to watch over you, care for you, and work in you through the gospel in Word and Sacrament to keep your faith burning brightly until you see with your very own eyes what Paul pictured: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Years ago, a submarine named S-4, was rammed into by another ship. Damaged and unable to function properly, it quickly began to sink with the entire crew trapped in its prison house of death. Ships rushed to the scene of the disaster off the coast of Massachusetts, and from one of those ships a diver made his way to the submarine and placed his helmeted ear to the side of the vessel, listening. From inside he heard a tapping noise. Someone was taping out a question in the dots and dashes of the Morse Code. The question came in slowly, “Is…there…any…hope?”

That is the cry of humanity: “Is there any hope?” That was our cry once. You see, our sin sucks the hope right out of life. It causes difficulties and evils, it burdens with guilt and loneliness, it fosters the feeling of fear and helplessness, it promises death and hell. But, if somehow, someway, sin can be taken away; if the guilt and fear it causes can be removed; if the finality of death and the destination of hell can be averted - hope can be restored. Rejoice, hope has been restored! Jesus Christ gave God the perfect obedience we withheld from him and did what we could not do. Jesus Christ accepted in his own body God’s punishment for our disobedience and undid what we have done. What’s more, it has been worked in us that we are able to believe that what our Savior accomplished did take away sin; did remove the fear and guilt it causes; and did avert the finality of death and the destination of hell. Now you, and I, have a place reserved for us around the throne of God where one day we will be part of the heavenly choir, privileged to bow down in the presence of the Lamb who sits upon the throne! That is hope! That is reason to Join the Multitude in Praise of the Lamb. After all, because of his death, he is worthy of our devotion; because of his resurrection, it is a song of eternal fellowship with God. Amen.