MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB

“They said with a loud voice:

The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”  (Revelation 5:12 HCSB)

Mary had a little Lamb,

To make us white as snow;

We must give our heart to Him,

If to heaven we would go.

As helpless as a little lamb, Mary placed the newborn King in a cradle of straw, his soft flesh bound up in swaddling cloths to ward of the chill of the night.  He came as a Lamb—One to be the perfect Passover, examined, proven to be without blemish and worthy of sacrificing Himself as a substitute for our sins.

The blood in the veins of that little Lamb was pure—real human blood, but untainted by sin—the result of a supernatural conception by the Spirit of God’s work and implanted in the virgin’s womb.  Fully God and fully man—subjected to the hostile environment of this world and yet not contaminated by it.  This was the Almighty Creator in the form of a nursing infant living on His mother’s milk.  He was just a little Lamb.

Just a Lamb?  Just a Lamb and what a Lamb!   After He grew to manhood, his cousin, John the Baptist, would stop his preaching and point to Him and shout, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  (John 1:29b) 

The Lamb identified Himself with those sinners He came to save.  From standing in line with them to be baptized in the Jordan, to dining with them at a wedding feast, to walking among the throngs of hurting humanity—jostled by the crowds, even the demonized and defiled, loathsome lepers and scarlet women.  That is not to mention the self-righteous sinners who needed Him as much as others, but were revolted at being around a Lamb who would love the unlovely.

But, it was for sinners He came as a Lamb, and it was for sinners that He died as a Lamb—His blood streaming down as He prays, “Father, forgive them.”  That prayer was meant for even His enemies—He died for all!

John saw that Lamb risen from the dead.  He testified to the life that He died to give—and that eternal life is assured for Christ has conquered death.  Then John saw Him rise into the sky, the Lamb heavenward bound.  The years passed, and the Apostle aged and was imprisoned on that hunk of rock in the Mediterranean Sea, called Patmos.  But, it was there He was graced to see the Lamb once more!

John had to wipe away his tears to see Him.  The scroll—the title deed to the universe—fastened shut by seven seals, had been presented with the condition it could only be possessed by someone worthy enough to own it and open the seals.  A search was made throughout the universe, and none were qualified.  John hung his head in despair, as tears flowed like rivers in the furrows that time had carved into his face.  Then He was told, “Look up, brush away the tears, someone has been found!”  That One is the Lamb of God.

He takes the scroll—for He alone is worthy!  All the redeemed, symbolized by the 24 elders bow before Him in worship.  A song fills the celestial sphere—a new song, a song of triumph and thanksgiving:

“And they sang a new song:

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed [people] for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.”  (Rev.5:9-10)

When Mary had her little Lamb, the angels lifted up their voices with a message of the Savior who had come.  It echoed across the Judean hills and compelled shepherds to leave their lambs to go see that special Lamb.  Now, John hears those same angels, along with all the heavenly host joining in the chorus:

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.  They said with a loud voice:

The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!

I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say:

Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.”  (Rev.5:11-14)

He is still the Lamb—the same Lamb that Mary had—the same Jesus—and yet, not the same Jesus.  Born in weakness, He now stands in power.  Sleeping in a stable then, sitting on a throne today—and He shall reign forever and ever!

Amen!  Let us bow down and worship the Lamb of glory!  If we shed tears, let them be the overflow of a heart brimful of joy and gratitude!  Merry Christmas indeed!