“A most odd kind of sheep”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Friday, December 22, 2023
Revelation 5: 6-14(Forward, p. 54) CEV p. 1299
One must be extremely careful as he or she reads the Scriptures and seeks to understand them, for a simple word or concept can be used in various and sometimes seemingly contradictory ways. Thus, ‘leaven’ or ‘yeast’ is found to be applied both positively—as a good and healthy influence that gradually spreads and takes over—and negatively, as something that spreads and corrupts as it spreads.
So, here in today’s passage, we find something along the same line. The central figure is that of a lamb, and it is not the ‘lamb’ as we have so often seen elsewhere in the Scriptures. This lamb is not the weak, vulnerable, easily led astray entity described there.
This particular lamb is described, firstly, as ‘standing’, and standing in the very centre of the throne, the very centre of heaven, which is most odd, for three reasons. Firstly, sheep/ lambs, being quadrupeds, need to stand on four legs, and would never be seen as ‘standing’ upright on two legs as humans do. So, this is odd, even in itself. And then, secondly, the lamb is in the centre of everything, the focus of everything—right there in heaven! And so, the lamb is more than ‘just a sheep’. And thirdly, we are told that though it was slain, it is not lying there as some corpse, but as one that is fully alive, resurrected as it were.
And who is this lamb? Well, certainly the description of him having been slain (verses 6,9,12) should tell us that it is none other than Jesus the Christ. And surely the earlier description of his being ‘the Lion of Judah’ and ‘the Root of David’ (verse 5a) confirm this.
And, of course, we are also told what the impact of us and on all of humankind His slaying had. “With your own blood you brought for God people from every tribe, language, nation and race” (verse 9b). By this once and for all action, He is described as having won the victory (verse 5b). And, because of His sacrifice, He is worthy to receive the scroll and open its seals (verse 9a) and to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and praise (verse 12). For this, He is worshipped and praised.
But, in all this, there is one major truth that we cannot, indeed, must not, overlook. In the preceding verses, verses 1-4), the Seer laments the fact that there is no human being, no one anywhere, that is qualified to open the scroll of God’s revelation and break its seals. No one living or dead, no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth, is worthy. None of us, no matter who or what we are, have managed to fulfill God’s perfect will. We have all blown it, all sinned. Not only can we not earn or merit our salvation, but we also cannot know God’s will or purposes on our own. Only Christ Jesus, this very odd kind of sheep, can save us, and only He can fully reveal His word to us. And so, this passage reminds us of our humble and very real need for Him and His help in everything that we are or do, and how desperately we need to come to Him and make use of His help. Thanks be to God that it is so abundantly available.
Forward notes: “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, ‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever” (verse 13).
“This verse describes a world I want to inhabit, where every creature, every last one, joins and sings praises to Jesus and God. Such moments sometimes poke their ways into even the most chaotic worldly life. Think of times in your life when groups come together in united purposes and advance good in the world. In these moments of grace, distractions and doubt evaporate.
“At this time of year, extended families come together, and amid expectations of joy and happiness, these reunions often surface resentments and disagreements. There might be stress around alcohol or substance use, unfair assumptions, old disputes, younger members’ desire for respect, older members’ insistence they can still do all they have done for years, and more. But this year, let us pray for open minds and hearts so we might join together in a chorus to sing God’s praises.”
Moving Forward: “Do you look forward to or dread family time? How might you seek to transform the experience?”