When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's wisdom and glory, the wonderful news of such a great and good man had a profound affect upon her. It got hold of her heart. It caused her to forsake her home and take a long, costly, dangerous journey to see this man of whom she had heard so much. She said to herself, "If such a man as this lives, I must know him. I will go to him, no matter what the cost." And she did. She went. And she was not disappointed. All that she had heard filled her with great expectations. But both the reports she had heard and the expectations formed in her own heart fell far short of Solomon's greatness. When she was admitted into his presence and saw him for herself, she said, "Behold, the half was not told me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard." (I Kings 10:1-9)
That is very much the way it is with God's people. We have heard the report of Christ's grace and glory in the gospel. And it has had a powerful affect upon us. Receiving the Word by faith, it has caused these things of this world which we once loved and admired to become insignificant trifles to us. We have become strangers and pilgrims upon the earth, in hopes of seeing him who is greater than Solomon. The report we have heard of our dear Savior is the subject of our song and our inspiring hope, as we make our pilgrimage through this world. It sustains us in trial, comforts us in trouble, strengthens us in temptation, and lifts us up when we are fallen down.
But what will it be to see him as he is, face to face? As yet, the half has not been told! We must die to see the fulness of our dear Redeemer's glory. Death will be a great teacher to God's people. In heaven we will know more by a glance, in a moment, of the greatness, grace, and glory of Christ than we could learn throughout our earthly studies and experiences. Here we struggle to know a little. There we shall see all with immediate clarity.
Come with me again to Revelation 5. Let the scenery of this chapter snatch your heart away from the cares of this world, as you anticipate the glory that awaits you. Look up for a while and forget your sorrows and afflictions, at least for a little while. The Lamb is upon his throne, surrounded by a great multitude of redeemed sinners, who were once afflicted and burdened just like you. But now, all their tears are wiped away. They have a perpetual song in their hearts. And it is peculiarly their own. (vv. 9-10).
The angels cannot sing this song. They never sinned. And they were not redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. But they are keenly interested in the song, and delighted to hear the Lamb so highly extolled by his people. The number of the angels is unknown to us. John says, "the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." Their number is known only to him that sits upon the throne. But these angels worship him who is our Mediator and our Redeemer. I do not mean merely that they worship God, but they worship the God-man. The object of their worship is "the Lamb that was slain." Though they have no part in redemption themselves, they understand that the highest glory of God is the glory of redemption. The highest views they have of God are derived from the wonders of the redemption of sinners by Christ. No wonder they so attentively serve in their capacity the cause of our Savior. The angels announced his birth. The angels announced his resurrection. The angels watch over his elect. The angels guard the bodies of his sleeping saints. The angels attend the worship services of the redeemed. And the angels will announce the glorious appearance of the Redeemer when he comes again. And though they cannot sing with the redeemed "Thou hast redeemed us," they can sing, "The Redeemer is worthy!" Tonight I want you to hear The Angelic Chorus. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."
Proposition:The angels of God sing the praises of our dear Savior, because they see the glory of God in the redemption, which he has accomplished – They have not experienced it. But they see it.
Divisions:He was not slain for fallen angels. To them no mercy was given. But this Lamb came to this earth and was slain in the place of and for the redemption of his fallen, sinful people, the seed of Abraham, his own elect (Heb. 2:16).
We were sinners, malicious enemies to God and willing slaves to sin and Satan. Yet, he loved us and died to redeem us. It is by virtue of his blood, through his death that these sinners now live before his throne. This Lamb, the Son of God, was slain for three reasons.
A. The Lamb Was Slain For The Glory of God. (John 12:27-28; 17:1,4).
The glory of God, his splendorous attributes and magnificent Person, could not be known but by the redemption of fallen sinners through the sacrifice of his own dear Son. (Ps. 85:10-13; Pr. 16:6).
B. The Lamb Was Slain So That He Might Recover The World From The Ruins of The Fall and Restore God's Glory In His Creation (John 12:31; Isa. 66:18-24; I Cor. 15:24).
C. And This Lamb Was Slain Because He Loved Us And Was Determined To Save Us From Our Sins (Mt. 1:21; John 12:32; I John 4:9-10).
The Lord Jesus Christ was lifted up upon the cross that, by the powerful magnetism of his dying love, in the appointed hour of mercy, he might draw our hearts to himself. This was the design and the effect of his death.
1. Nothing but his blood could satisfy the wrath and justice of a holy God.
2. Nothing but his blood, poured out in love to us, could subdue our hearts and conquer our wills.
3. Nothing but his blood could bring us to heaven.
This, our full and eternal salvation, was the joy set before him, for which he endured the cross, despising the shame (Heb. 12:1-2).
The angels, seeing the glory of the cross, pour out their praises to "The Lamb that was slain." And their praises are heightened, when they consider how he was slain.
II. How Was The Lamb of God Slain For Sinners?Learn the answer to this question, and you learn the whole of the gospel (I Cor. 15:3). If you miss this, you will miss the gospel, miss heaven, miss salvation, and miss Christ. How was the Lamb slain?
He did not die a natural death. He was slain. He did not die like a mighty hero, by an honorable wound on the field of battle. He died the death of a slave, a common malefactor. Cruelty, malice, contempt, and shame combined to make his death an ignominious horror. After he was slain, very few even cared. The world went on as it was before, as though nothing had happened. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." But rather, they nailed him to a tree, watched him die in agony, buried him in a tomb, and went on their merry way. But how did the Son of God come to die such a death? The answer is found in Isaiah 53:10-11.
Now against the dark background of his ignominious death, the perfections of God were displayed in their fullest luster and beauty. And they are the perfections of the Lamb himself, our Divine Redeemer. Therefore the angels distinctly ascribe the praises of God's own glorious Being to the Lamb.
III. What Dignities Do The Angels Ascribe To The Lamb That Was Slain?
This is their chorus: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."
Each of these words have a distinct meaning. But, taking them all together, they are intended to inspire our hearts with reverence, confidence, and love toward "The Lamb that was slain." Every excellence is his rightful possession. He is worthy to have them all attributed to him, because he possesses them all, and possesses them all in an absolute sense as our Mediator. Therefore he is worthy of our adoration, dependence, and praise, both now and forever.
A. Christ Is Worthy of Power And He Possesses All Power – (John 17:2).Power belongs to him eminently and exclusively. All the power of creatures is derived from him. He who is our Mediator has sovereign, uncontrollable authority (Dan. 4:35; Matt. 28:18). And he exercises this power in:
B. Christ Is Worthy To Possess All Wisdom, And He Is Wisdom (Pro. 8:22).
He is the only wise God and our Savior" (Jude 25). And he is our Wisdom I Cor. 1:30). To know him is life eternal, for by him we have the knowledge of God (John 17:3).
1. Christ alone reveals the Father to us – (John 1:18; 14:6-9).
2. Christ alone has opened to us the secrets of his Father's will, his counsel of peace, covenant of redemption, and purpose of grace.
3. It is wisdom communicated to us from him, through the Scriptures, that makes us wise unto salvation.
4. And it is his wisdom that guides us through this world (Pro. 3:5-6).
He makes the crooked path straight. He teaches us how to avoid the snares that are laid for us. And when we are entangled, he extricates from the fowler's net.
C. Christ Jesus Is Worthy Of And Possesses All Riches.
He is a storehouse full of mercy, grace, and comfort. Who can imagine what all is included in "the unsearchable riches of Christ"? Of his fulness we daily receive grace. But his riches are never diminished.
1. He can feed us – He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
2. He can cloth us – Did he not cloth Adam and Eve?
3. He can put as much spending money in our pockets as we need – The gold of Ophir is his.
4. He can protect us – The angels of God are at his disposal.
D. Our Redeemer Is Worthy Of Strength, And He Possess It.
Strength is the ability, the energy, the efficacy of his power, by which he accomplishes his holy purposes. Our Savior speaks, and it is done! He commandeth, and it standeth fast. The waves of the stormy sea obey his voice. And with equal authority he rules over all things, both animate and inanimate. Strength is the effectual exercise of his sovereign power. This mighty Savior is able to keep us from falling, and able to bring us safe to heaven through the camp of our enemies.
E. Christ Our Mediator Is Worthy Of Honor, And He Is A Fountain Of Honor To His People.
As the morning sun beautifies the spring flower by shining upon it, the Sun of Righteousness beautifies and brings honor to all those upon whom he cast the beams of his mercy. He has made us honorable by his grace – (Isa. 43:4; Ez. 16:6-14).
He has clothed us with the garments of salvation and covered us with the robe of his righteousness. He washed us in his blood, decked us with the jewels of his grace, and crowned us with the diadem of his beauty.
F. The Lord Jesus Christ, The Lamb That Was Slain, Is Worthy Of Glory, And Glory Resides In Him.
He is glorious in himself, for he is God. He is glorious in all his works of creation and providence. But these do not fully exhibit his character. But in that Lamb upon the throne, all the fulness of the Divine glory shines in all its magnificent brilliances. "Who is like unto thee, O Lord? Who is like unto thee? Glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders!" (Ex. 15:11). "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints!" (Rev. 15:3).
G. And This Glorious Lamb Is Worthy Of All Blessing.
1. He is the Source And Author of the blessings and happiness, which we receive.
2. Who then, but our dear Savior, is the rightful object of all blessing and praise?
We cannot make suitable returns to him. Yet, in our own way, we do bless him.
In proportion as we are enabled to gratefully worship, trust, love, and magnify him, we enjoy heaven upon the earth.
2. And this is the heaven we hope for with longing hearts.To stand before the Lamb continually, to behold his glory, to live under the unclouded beams of his favor, to be able truly to worship, praise, and bless him as we ought, without weariness, without distraction, without sin, without end, this is heaven! Savior, bring us there quickly!
3. What insensible rebels you are who will not now fall down and worship this glorious Savior – (Ps. 2:1-12).*