August 11th, 2026
Good morning, church family!
I was outside early in the morning a few days ago when my breath got taken away. All I could say was, “Thank you, God!”
It was an overcast morning. I was watering our flowers around the outside of the house when the cloud cover began to break, and things began to lighten up. I looked up and saw one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen. The rays of light seemed to stretch on forever as the sun peaked over the clouds. It was stunning! Immediately, my mind was filled with these lyrics, “He’s coming on the clouds, kings and kingdoms will bow down” (click to listen to "The Lion and the Lamb" by Big Daddy Weave).
When I got to work a few minutes later, I went to my office and read again these words:“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals’” (Rev. 5:5). While in exile on the island of Patmos, God entrusted the apostle John with this incredible revelation, telling him to “write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Rev. 21:5).
Interpretations of the book of Revelation abound. But this much is certain: it paints a powerful portrait of Jesus from beginning to end. But no picture is as stunning, nor as dichotomous as the one painted Revelation 5.
John was in tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll (Rev. 5:1-4). He was devastated no one could reveal the contents of the scroll to him, or to the world through him. Then one of elders stepped forward to assure John there was One who was able to reveal the mystery of the ages – the Lion of the tribe of Judah. John turned, expecting to see this Lion, wrapped in awesome power and great glory.
But instead, John’s eyes fixed on “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne . . . (v. 6a). Instead of seeing the most powerful of creatures – a Lion, John saw the meekest of creatures – a Lamb. But this was not just any Lamb. This One was surrounded by elders and living creatures – revealing the centrality, power and authority of Jesus. He took the scroll and all of heaven broke into a chorus of worship!
Judah’s lion, prophesied by Jacob (cf. Gen. 49:8-10) as the One who would hold the scepter forever, is also Israel’s sacrificial Lamb, said by John the baptizer to be the One who will take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Who but our God could have imagined a plan of salvation where Judah’s Lion would also be the Passover Lamb slain and risen again?
The book of Revelation contains four breathtaking scenes of worship (4:6ff; 5:6ff; 11:16-18; 19:1-9). Grab your Bible and a cup of coffee and join John as he looks at Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb who will reign forever. Use your imagination and let the scenes take your breath away. Hallelujah!
Blessings,
Pastor David
I was outside early in the morning a few days ago when my breath got taken away. All I could say was, “Thank you, God!”
It was an overcast morning. I was watering our flowers around the outside of the house when the cloud cover began to break, and things began to lighten up. I looked up and saw one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen. The rays of light seemed to stretch on forever as the sun peaked over the clouds. It was stunning! Immediately, my mind was filled with these lyrics, “He’s coming on the clouds, kings and kingdoms will bow down” (click to listen to "The Lion and the Lamb" by Big Daddy Weave).
When I got to work a few minutes later, I went to my office and read again these words:“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals’” (Rev. 5:5). While in exile on the island of Patmos, God entrusted the apostle John with this incredible revelation, telling him to “write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Rev. 21:5).
Interpretations of the book of Revelation abound. But this much is certain: it paints a powerful portrait of Jesus from beginning to end. But no picture is as stunning, nor as dichotomous as the one painted Revelation 5.
John was in tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll (Rev. 5:1-4). He was devastated no one could reveal the contents of the scroll to him, or to the world through him. Then one of elders stepped forward to assure John there was One who was able to reveal the mystery of the ages – the Lion of the tribe of Judah. John turned, expecting to see this Lion, wrapped in awesome power and great glory.
But instead, John’s eyes fixed on “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne . . . (v. 6a). Instead of seeing the most powerful of creatures – a Lion, John saw the meekest of creatures – a Lamb. But this was not just any Lamb. This One was surrounded by elders and living creatures – revealing the centrality, power and authority of Jesus. He took the scroll and all of heaven broke into a chorus of worship!
Judah’s lion, prophesied by Jacob (cf. Gen. 49:8-10) as the One who would hold the scepter forever, is also Israel’s sacrificial Lamb, said by John the baptizer to be the One who will take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Who but our God could have imagined a plan of salvation where Judah’s Lion would also be the Passover Lamb slain and risen again?
The book of Revelation contains four breathtaking scenes of worship (4:6ff; 5:6ff; 11:16-18; 19:1-9). Grab your Bible and a cup of coffee and join John as he looks at Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb who will reign forever. Use your imagination and let the scenes take your breath away. Hallelujah!
Blessings,
Pastor David
Recent
Archive
2026
January
February
April
June
2025
October
2024
2023
January
February
March
April
August
September
December
2022
January
No Comments