He is the Lamb

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And they sang a new song before the throne (Revelation 14:1, 3). 

Few animals are more gentle and harmless that a lamb. A lamb is a sheep less than one year old. In his John's vision of heaven, this is how he sees Jesus.

Actually most of the photos of lamb on the internet are lamb not as a furry friend, but as dinner. Lambs nurse at their mother's breast and eat grass. People eat lamb. 

Jesus came to us at Christmas as a baby, small and helpless. When John the Baptist first introduces Jesus to Israel, John calls Him the Lamb of God (see John 1:36). Jesus is "gentle" God. Jesus is "come close to Me" God. Jesus allowed predators to ravish Him. Just like a lamb.

But instead of needing a shepherd, Jesus is the shepherd, leading a congregation of followers. And they worship Him. 

“Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7) 

We are instructed to fear and worship the Lamb. 

This is why it is hard to do. Jesus seemed gentle. He looked like one of us, a man. His glory was hidden in His human form.  This is what Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 1:22-24: For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

This is why we are easily deceived by powerful charismatic evil men (and women) who tap into our desires. We all want to be led by a competent, strong leader. But we also want what we want. 

At the end of the age, the Lamb will reveal Himself as Lord of heaven and earth. He will send His mighty angels to execute the wrath of God on those who have chosen this evil path.

“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9-11) 

We discover the Lamb is not gentle or harmless. Instead the Lamb is good, just, and faithful. He is the powerful King of all kings. He will not allow evil to flourish forever. He will end evil. 

Ending evil is not being hardhearted, judgmental or wrong. Ending evil is good. Maybe this is why people love the movie Die Hard and claim it is a Christmas movie. We all long to be rescued by the good guy and cheer the death of the bad guy.    

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep His commands and remain faithful to Jesus. (Revelation 14:12) 

Right now, we still have time to choose Jesus. To "not choose" is to side with evil and reap their reward. 

Who have you chosen?

Beloved, I have chosen You but I am not good at patience or endurance. Please help me! Give me courage. Strengthen me to face the suffering. Fill me with Your Spirit to obey Your word. Praise God that even when I am faithless, You remain faithful.