THE SILENT SERVANT

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53:7-9‬‬)

We live in a day where people are very demanding concerning their “rights.”  Loud voices protest nearly everything it seems.  In some cases, there are legitimate grievances that should be addressed, and in others, the desire to legitimize preferences and perversions.

If there were ever a case to assert one’s rights, it would have been the arrest and trial of Jesus. From a human perspective, this was the greatest miscarriage of justice in human history. The only perfect Man who ever lived, who went about doing good with a heart of pure love, was seized by a lynch mob, made subject to an illegal trial, tortured by judge and jury, and condemned to die—although the highest official in the land declared, “I find no fault in Him.”  The cross that was meant for a wicked man named Barabbas became the cruel means of Christ’s death, while Barabbas was set free!

Yet, Jesus called for no lawyer. He did not appeal the verdict. He offered no defense for Himself. He did not seek an organized protest march by His followers.

Why?

He was not a bellowing bull at the butcher. He was not a squealing hog at the slaughterhouse. He was a Lamb—silently watching His blood pour out.

It wasn’t that He could not have done something, but that He would not do anything. Surely, the Man who spoke to a storm and demanded it to stop, could have called the same creation to open the earth and swallow His foes. He could have summoned the legions of angels to swoop in to His rescue. All they needed was a word. They were there in heaven, hands grasping fiery swords, ready to respond, but no call was given.

Why?

It was His mission to earth. He came to die for sinners like us. I am Barabbas—and so are you—Christ dying in my place, as Peter said, “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” (1 Pet.3:18).

ABOVE THE STORM CLOUDS

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.  (Revelation 14:1)

I remember flying out of Charlotte’s airport in the rain.  Black clouds enveloped the plane.  Powerful engines strained to lift the massive metal jet into the sky.  You couldn’t see anything outside the cabin window—all was dark and ominous.  Then the plane burst through the clouds into brilliant sunshine.  What had been dark clouds overhead became a bed of cotton balls below—bright blue sky all around.  That is what happens when you come to the fourteenth chapter of Revelation.  The previous chapter has featured flashes of lighting and peals of thunder—the storm of God’s wrath having broken on a Christ-rejecting world.  It is a scene dark with demons.  Suddenly, we gain a new perspective as we are taken into heavenly sunlight.  Never forget that as a child of God—no matter the storms of the present—there is a brighter day coming!

Above the clouds we see the glory of heaven (v.1).  Here are the 144,000 Jews who have been preserved through the tribulation and are now safe in heaven.  Though they are the specific ones named, we would not be amiss to see them prefiguring all the elect of God, secure in glory.  They, however, are the supporting cast, for the star of the heavenly scene is the Lamb standing on Mount Zion.  The spotlight is on Him.  That heaven will be an incomparably beautiful place is evident from the Biblical depictions, but what makes heaven to be glorious is that the Lamb is there!  It is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world who paves the way for us to join Him.  It is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world that purges the wickedness that would bar us.  One day we will bow before those nail-scarred feet and join the heavenly hosts singing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!”

God has given a birthmark to His children—the seal of the Holy Spirit—that brands us as belonging to Him and guarantees our safe passage into the City of God.  In the previous chapter, we have seen Satan has a “Beast-mark” for those who follow the Antichrist.  This is a seal which secures their doom—666.  The reality is that all of us identify with one group or the other.  If I am sealed by God my eternal destiny is settled.  There were 144,000 sealed on earth and there are not 143,999 seen in heaven—all are there and not one was lost!  When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there!

No wonder heaven will be a place of mirth and music (v.2-3).  A sacred symphony of praise will permeate the atmosphere.  Note that there will be the singing of new songs.  Some of us don’t like new songs.  Will we enjoy heaven then?  Maybe we better start singing some down here.  This is the song of the redeemed and salvation is something to sing about!

Heaven will be more than a happy place—it will be a holy place (v.4-5).  The celibacy of the 144,000 may be a literal, physical reality, but it portrays a real, spiritual condition also.  These have been morally pure and fully devoted to Christ.  They persevered because God purchased them.  Their testimony was true.  Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, we will stand faultless and flawless before God—O glorious day!

HE ALONE IS WORTHY

You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals….  (Revelation 5:9)

The throne of God has a prominent place in the book of Revelation, being mentioned thirty-four times.  There are four references in chapter five.  This chapter shows us the purest worship.  We prepare for worship hereafter by our worship here.  Far too often we get on the throne and demand a worship experience about our musical tastes, the style we enjoy, and the feelings we want, when true worship bows to the One on the throne and focuses on Him.

The chapter commences with a scroll being presented (v.1).  This scroll represents the title deed to the universe. It is covered in writing on front and back indicating that nothing more can be added.  The contents are hidden—it is rolled up and sealed with seven seals.  That deed to creation was Adam’s, but he forfeited it when he sinned, and surrendered dominion to Satan’s clutches.  Now, all creation groans under the curse, longing to be redeemed from bondage.  Who is worthy to take the scroll?

Search is made throughout the universe (v.2-3).  No angel in heaven above, no man on earth, nor demon in hell is qualified to take the scroll.  None are worthy.  This breaks John’s heart (v.4).  He sees the world full of sin and the sorrows it brings.  He longs for deliverance to come.  Is there not a redeemer?

Oh yes there is!  One alone is worthy! Christ, the Lamb of God, has prevailed (v.5-7)!  He prevailed in the wilderness when tempted by Satan.  He prevailed in the garden when He drank the bitter cup.  He prevailed on the cross when He paid the redemption price in full.  He prevailed over the grave when He conquered death!  John lifted his head bowed in despair, brushed away the tears from his eyes, and looked up expecting to see a Lion, but was shocked to see a Lamb.  This Lamb is one that had been slain—the wounds of Calvary testifying to His accomplished mission of redemption.  He has seven horns—speaking of power; seven eyes—speaking of perception; seven Spirits—speaking of presence.  Thus, Jesus is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent!

The four living creatures and twenty-four elders respond by bowing before the Lamb (v.8).  The four living creatures symbolize all that which He has created.  The twenty-four elders represent all the redeemed of all the ages.  Heaven is seen as a place where praise is sung and prayers are stored.  That instruments are strummed may not surprise us; that intercessions are secured may startle us.  Prayer is spiritual and eternal—its efficacy such that even after we are dead those prayers remain before God’s throne.  In His time and way, He will answer—even if we are in heaven!

In heaven we will sing a new song (v.9-10).  The message is not new, but the melody is!  There are those who insist that any new music is bad music.  In church, they only want the old songs. Yet, do we not realize there was a time when those old songs were new songs?  Heaven is filled with music and I want to warm up for that choir by singing God’s praise here!

There will be a sevenfold doxology sung in holy harmony (v.11-14).  The Lamb of God will be the subject of that worship.  Music will pervade the atmosphere in glory.  God made creation to utter joyful sounds—whether a bird to twitter or a human to sing.  The Lamb alone is worthy of our praise.  Amen?  Amen!