After the death and Resurrection of Jesus, the early Christian writers understood the truth of Jesus as the Lamb of God and made numerous references to Old Testament teachings and practices. The prototypical Lamb-shaped Jewish spirituality became a clearer Lamb-shaped Christian spirituality centred in Jesus the Lamb of God.
In his apocalyptic writing, the elderly apostle John takes this theme further by seeing a future shaped by the Lamb, and an eternity bearing the mark of the Lamb. The Lamb sits on the centre of the throne of heaven (Revelation 7:17). Revelation 5:13 and 7:10 refer to two Persons occupying the throne — the Father and the Son, or God and the Lamb. The Lamb has the power and authority to unfold the future (Revelation 6) and oversee the judgement that will come. He is also waiting to be united with His bride, the church (19:7-9; 21:9), which comprises all whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (13:8).
A central feature of the Lamb in heaven is that He will be remembered as the Lamb “who was slain” (5:12). His blood will be cherished (7:14; 12:11) for it produces holiness and righteousness; qualities necessary for permanent residence in heaven.
The book was written at a time when Christians were going through trials and persecution. Did John’s vision of the Lamb offer any comfort or hope in such dire circumstances?
The Spirit of God opened John’s eyes to see a reality that superseded the news-breaking events of that time. He sees a future that is bathed with the reality of the Lamb who is in control of the present circumstances, for He sits on His throne.
The Lamb is also with His suffering people — His blood remains fresh and efficacious. It continues to bring healing and salvation, comfort and strength. The Lamb will triumph over all the forces that may be strong today. No power or authority can prevail over the Lamb.
The future will be entirely shaped by the Lamb on the throne. Meanwhile, the Lamb’s people must realise that the thorns of the cross are connected intimately with the throne of heaven — and draw comfort and strength from their Lord.
Everybody aspires for the future, but the perfect future is elusive in this world. The man who aspires to be the wealthiest man in the world finds an empty heart to contend with when he reaches his materialistic dream. The man who seeks health finds that such health is only transient; there are so many things that he cannot control. The man who seeks knowledge finds lessening evidence of wisdom in the growing rainstorm of knowledge. And the man who seeks to be forever young finds that old age and death catch up with him quickly.
All futures, other than the one that is shaped by the Lamb and ruled by Him, are bound to fail — they are merely illusions. If we want a real future, it has to be the Lamb’s future, one that is rooted in the death and Resurrection of Jesus.
The biblical truth of Jesus as the Lamb points eternally to His cross and what He did there for us. The idea of the Lamb on the throne points to His Resurrection, His victory over death and all that is designed by the evil one against His universe.
In other words, if we want a real future we have to take Jesus’ death and Resurrection seriously. We cannot simply sing or say the right words, but we have to live accordingly. We have to show that the death and Resurrection of Jesus is the central reality of our lives.
The two sacraments in the church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, connect us with the death and Resurrection of our Lord. We die to sin and rise to life (with Christ) when we are baptised (Romans 6:5). When we gather around the Lord’s Table, we remember His death and look forward to the Resurrection (Matthew 26:27-29). It is important to recognise why our connection with the death and Resurrection of Jesus is so central to our worship and discipleship.
Half measures will not bring us to the Lamb’s heaven. If He is not your Lamb, His heaven cannot be yours too. If He is your Lamb, then He will also be your Shepherd — the one who is your daily guide (Revelation 7:17). Then His death and Resurrection will be integral and central in your life. If it is not, why don’t you do something about it? The ball is in your court.
Consider this:
What often lies at the centre of human lives? How can the death and Resurrection of Jesus become the central reality of our lives?
Excerpted and adapted from Apprenticed to Jesus by Robert Solomon. © 2014 by Robert Solomon. Used by permission of Armour Publishing. All rights reserved.
