This past week, I got a little note from an online viewer name Ruth who is ninety years old and under palliative care. She asked for prayer and said, “My pain is getting very bad.” I emailed her back. And this was what she said, “Pray God helps me endure Till He takes me home. I know Jesus never leaves me or forsakes me but He never promised us no suffering in this life. We are better witness to our faith when we keep the faith even through suffering…”
Ruth is hurting badly in her body, but her faith is strong; her hold on Jesus is firm. The power of her faith witness shines bright and strong.
What is true power? The world tells us a lot of things about power. We think power lies in telling others what to do or how to think. We think power might lie in physical prowess or beauty or fame. Power might lie in wealth or the ability to manipulate situations to our benefit. Power might lie in how many weapons or bombs or military personnel we have or in having the most persuasive diplomats or the leader with the most votes or best approval ratings.
Today, in Revelation 5, we see the heart of power. In our Scripture, we go to the throne room of Heaven with John. We hear from the One seated on the throne who is God the Father. We see that in this perfect place of power, He is announcing that there is a problem: there is a scroll that cannot be opened, and no one who is worthy can be found to open it. All action is arrested, matters cannot move forward, and everyone looks for the One with the power to open the scroll. Is the scroll Scripture which somehow is closed? Is it human history which is arrested and cannot move forward? Who can solve this problem in heaven?
An angel tells John (and us) that a powerful Lion will come, the Lion of Judah, who will triumphantly open the scroll. But when we look around, what we see is not a Lion, but a Lamb, a sacrificed and bloodied Lamb.
We’ve been led to expect that the Power who can move salvation history forward will be strong, strong like a lion. But instead, we see a little lamb, an innocent and pure lamb who has been sacrificed, and that lamb is standing at the center of the throne. What are we learning about power? We see that God’s kind of power is made perfect in Jesus’ laying down his life for others — his life offered in sacrifice to bring about salvation. True power is not lion-power but the power of the Lamb, the power of the Cross. Everyone in heaven sees this truth! And we see it too.
And then, all heaven breaks loose! The Lamb takes the scroll and everyone in heaven kneels in awe. Music pours forth and the sweet scent of incense goes up. Singing begins, first a small ensemble and then a mighty throng of angels, singing “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!” The song of the Lamb spreads throughout creation and on land and sea all lift their voices in praise and worship of the Lamb.
If you ever wondered about the heart of God, you have your answer: the heart of God is in Jesus, the Lamb who offered his pure and innocent life for us all. The Lamb is the key that opens everything, in our life, in our world, in Scripture and in history.