Request your free, three-month trial to Tabletalk magazine. You’ll receive the print issue monthly and gain immediate digital access to decades of archives. This trial is risk-free. No credit card required.
Try Tabletalk NowAlready receive Tabletalk magazine every month?
Verify your email address to gain unlimited access.
Here is an oft-quoted adage that says, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” In rather picturesque language, this saying describes the (usual) contrast between the blustery, chilly weather at the beginning of the month and its calmer, gentler end.
Revelation 5 opens with a search to find one who was worthy to open the scroll in the hand of the One seated on the throne in heaven. It contained a record of God’s purposes in history until its consummation. This was no ordinary scroll. It was written on both the inside and the outside and was sealed with seven seals.
Initially, no one worthy to open the scroll and look into it was found, causing John to weep loudly. Not even the most righteous humans named in the Bible, including Noah, Daniel, and Job (see Ezek. 14:14, 20), or all the most righteous and holy humans of all history taken together were worthy. Not even the glorious angelic servants of God were worthy.
John’s weeping did not last long, for someone was found—the only One who was worthy for the task. This One is possessed with the same worthiness as the One seated on the throne, for They are equal in Their divine nature. This worthy One is, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scriptures are replete with pictures of His manifold character and glorious person. In this passage, two descriptive images are used. First, He is described as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” (Rev. 5:5; recall Gen. 49:8–12). He is majestic and powerful and dangerous. He is great David’s greater Son, who will rule with a rod of iron and vanquish all His enemies.
Second, as John turned to catch a glimpse of the Lion, he saw “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (Rev. 5:6). The Lion and the Lamb are the same individual. Jesus, the altogether Righteous One, is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He died that He might abolish death and bring life and immortality to the elect (see 2 Tim. 1:10).
The contrasting pictures of the Lion and Lamb illustrate the unique beauty of our Savior. The perfectly harmonious combination of His powerful majesty and His lowly humility, of His conquest of death and His submission to death, of His regal lineage and His lowly birth all shine light on His worthiness to open the scroll.
In Revelation 4, we hear the melodious words of praise that the four living creatures unceasingly give to the One who is seated on the throne. Likewise, the twenty-four elders declare that He is worthy of all glory and honor and power.
In similar fashion, in chapter 5, we hear a new song being sung in praise of the Lamb. May we also continually sing praise to our great God for what He has done and what He will do.