Tagged: Christian
Jesus in the Passover – Part 3
Previously: Jesus in the Passover – Part 2 / Jesus in the Passover – Part 1
With Easter approaching, as Christians celebrate the finished work of Christ — His death, burial and resurrection — it may increase our joy to see His earthly ministry in light of the Jewish feasts. In this post, we will complete our three-part look at Jesus in the Passover. For a free download of the complete study of Jesus in the feasts of Israel, click here.
Jesus appeared at Passover during each of the three years of His public ministry. Each time He revealed key truths about Himself and His work as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In each appearance, Jesus illustrated His person and work through confrontations and confirmations.
Jesus in the Passover – Part 1
With Easter approaching, as Christians celebrate the finished work of Christ — His death, burial and resurrection — it may increase our joy to see His earthly ministry in light of the Jewish feasts. In this post, we will begin to look at the Passover, which foreshadows Jesus’ substitutionary and sacrificial death. For a free download of the complete study of Jesus in the feasts of Israel, click here.
When John the Baptist declared, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 KJV), every Jew knew John was referring to the Passover lamb. Jesus is called “a lamb” or “the lamb” 31 times in the New Testament, and Isaiah 53:7 refers to the Messiah as a lamb.
Every Christian can see Jesus in the Passover by observing the uniquely Messianic characteristics of the Passover lamb:
1. The selection of the lamb (Ex. 12:1-6; John 1:29; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; Rev. 13:8).
2. The slaughter of the lamb (Ex. 12:7-10; Isa. 53:6; Heb. 1:3; 9:12-14; 1 Peter 1:2; Rev. 1:5).
3. The salvation of the lamb (Ex. 12:11-13, 23; John 1:29; 1 Cor. 15:26; Eph. 1:7; 2:1; 1 Peter 2:24-5).
The Lion and the Lamb: Rev. 5:5-7
Previously: A mighty angel – Rev. 5:2-4
The scripture
Rev. 5:5 – Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne (HCSB).
John’s cries of anguish are about to end. Just when he despairs that the hidden plans of God are about to remain hidden, one of the 24 elders – probably representatives of redeemed people throughout the ages – steps forward and simply says, “Stop crying.” Literally, John has described himself as one who “kept on shedding many tears.” Warren Wiersbe writes, “No wonder John wept, for he realized that God’s glorious redemption plan for mankind could never be completed until the scroll was opened. The redeemer had to be near of kin, willing to redeem, and able to redeem. Jesus Christ meets all of the qualifications. He became flesh, so He is our Kinsman. He loves us and is willing to redeem; and He paid the price, so He is able to redeem” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, Re 5:1).
But what tone does the elder take in addressing John? Is he annoyed, as if the apostle is a sniveling crybaby? Is he grieved because John lacks faith that a worthy kinsman will step forward? Or is he an over-excited observer who happens to be the first to catch a glimpse of the glorified Messiah? Probably neither of these explanations will do. It’s more likely that the elder, understanding John’s desperate sorrow, seeks to comfort and encourage him. “The elders in heaven round God’s throne know better than John, still in the flesh, the far-reaching power of Christ” (A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments, Re 5:5).
We might imagine the elder’s voice as firm but gentle. We can almost see him lay a warm and steady hand on John’s convulsing shoulder. His rebuke – if there even is one – is mild, followed quickly by the imperative to “look!” What follows quickly turns John’s sense of foreboding into unspeakable joy. The elder identifies the Redeemer as the lion from the tribe of Judah and the Root of David. John then describes Him as one like a slaughtered lamb. In our next post, we will look more closely at these three descriptive titles for Jesus.
Next: The lion from the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
Freedom in Christ: Download the free Bible study on Paul’s letter to the Galatians
The apostle Paul penned his letter to the Galatians for several key reasons: 1) to defend his authority as a true apostle of Christ; 2) to affirm the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith; and 3) to illustrate that the Christian life is to be lived in the power of the Holy Spirit, not through self-imposed bondage to the law. Throughout this epistle Paul declares that true freedom may be found only in Christ.
A mighty angel: Rev. 5:2-4
Previously — The seven-sealed scroll (Rev. 5:1-4)
The scripture
Rev. 5:2 — I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. 4And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it (HCSB).
John sees “a mighty angel” who proclaims in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” (v. 2). It is interesting that angels are never numbered in scripture. People are numbered. The elders are numbered. The living creatures are numbered. The elect are numbered. Our days are numbered. Even the hairs of our heads, Jesus says, are numbered. But the heavenly hosts are described as “myriads,” or “countless thousands, plus thousands and thousands.” Why is this? We are not told. However, it appears all angels were created at one time. Since they do not die, and no new angels are being created, this innumerable host remains the same in number today as the day of their creation. No doubt, many angels followed Satan in rebellion against God, although that number is unknown (some commentators suggest one-third of the angelic host rebelled based on a single verse in Revelation).
Angels come in different classes, and a few are called by name. The most prominent of these appears in the Old Testament as “the angel of the Lord,” whom many commentators believe to be the pre-incarnate Christ. Satan once was known as the anointed cherub; he also has more notorious names: the father of liars, the ancient serpent, the Devil, the deceiver, and the evil one. Michael is the only archangel named in scripture. Other angels are named, such as Gabriel, who brought news of the pending birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. Then there are cherubim and seraphim, which may or may not be angels but certainly are heavenly creatures. In this passage in Revelation, we are told of a “mighty” or “strong” angel. All angels are strong. They are more powerful than people but not omnipotent. They are more intelligent than people but not omniscient. And they are swifter than people but not omnipresent. But occasionally the Bible describes an angel in a certain way. In this case, John sees him as a “mighty” angel.
Mighty angels appear in two other places in Revelation (10:1 and 18:21). Is this the same angel, who makes three appearances in Revelation? Or are these three different angels? It’s difficult to know with certainty, although in 10:1 the angel descends from heaven, is surrounded by a cloud, and has a rainbow over his head. His face shines like the sun, and his legs are like fiery pillars. While this angel is similar to biblical depictions of the Messiah, likely he is not, for he is described as “another” mighty angel, implying that he lacks the uniqueness of Jesus. In any case, the mighty angel in Revelation 5 is distinguished by his “loud voice,” which is heard from the farthest reaches of glory to the four corners of the earth – and even into the abode of the dead. “Who is worthy,” he cries, “to open the scroll and break its seals?”
Who is worthy?
There is a thundering silence in response to the mighty angel’s question, broken only by John’s agonizing sobs. “No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth” is able to open the scroll or even to look in it, writes John. Not the four living creatures. Not the 24 elders. Not the countless angels inhabiting the throne room of heaven. Not John, or another apostle, or a prophet, soothsayer or magician, nor anyone else on earth. Not any of the deceased, whose bodies lay “under the earth” awaiting resurrection. Not even the “anointed cherub” who once stood in the very presence of the Almighty. No one across the farthest reasons of the universe is qualified to stand before the Ancient of Days and take the scroll he holds in His right hand.
No doubt John waits anxiously, searching the horizon, listening intently, hoping to feel the subtle breeze of some worthy creature’s robe or wings as he heroically approaches the throne. But to no avail. Just silence, until John breaks it with uncontrollable wailing. God’s hidden agenda for the climax of human history and the destiny of the church must remain just that – hidden. In chapter 4 John is promised a glimpse of “what must take place after this” (v. 1). Could it be – is it even conceivable – that the Son of Man would now break that promise?
Matthew Henry writes: “By what he had seen in him who sat upon the throne, he was very desirous to see and know more of his mind and will: this desire, when not presently gratified, filled him with sorrow, and fetched many tears from his eyes…. Those who have seen most of God in this world are most desirous to see more; and those who have seen his glory desire to know his will. Good men may be too eager and too hasty to look into the mysteries of divine conduct. Such desires, not presently answered, turn to grief and sorrow. Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Re 5:1–5).
But the beloved disciple’s dark gloom is about to lift.
Next — The Lion and the Lamb (Rev. 5:5-7)
OnceDelivered.net 