The Lamb that was slaughtered.

In this week’s besora reading from Revelation 5:1-14, we come to a timely reading that fits well with Passover, a story of a sacrificed lamb or as Dr. David Stern translated it in the Jewish New Testament, a “slaughtered lamb”.

Though the use of “slaughtered” is much more graphic
than sacrificied, I think it is fitting, especially as we have
considered the redemption from Egypt and the sparing
of the firstborn because of the blood of the slaughtered
lambs whose blood placed on the doorposts marked out
a home of those who took hold of God’s provision.

In this week’s reading we come to a vision from the
book of Revelation, as Yochanan tells of an event where
the unfolding of his story and the events of his book are
on hold being that there is a sealed scroll that needs to
be opened to continue the events of the story and the
unfolding of his “revelation of Messiah Yeshua”.
Yochanan says that an angel called out asking if anyone
was worthy to open the scroll and was greeted with no
answer, which caused Yochanan to weep. Then we read:

One of the elders said to me, “Don!t cry.
Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, has won the right to open
the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw
standing there with the throne and the four
living beings, in the circle of the elders, a
Lamb that appeared to have been
slaughtered.
Revelation 5:5-6

The one who was worthy was the Lion of the tribe of
Judah, the Root of David, a reference to Yeshua, our
righteous Messiah. We will see that his worthiness to
take the scroll was based on his being the Lamb that was
slain. It is the “slaughtered lamb” that has proven
himself through his suffering and death that can take his
place as the one to keep the story going and to continue
the unfolding or revelation of the Messiah and his
workings in the world.

It is not easy for us, now separated for nearly 2000 years
from the Temple sacrifices and the annual killing of the
Passover lamb, to take in fully the depth of what
“sacrifice” really means. Even at a higher level is the
self-sacrifice of our Messiah that took place during the
Passover, nearly two millennia ago. Though we may not
have experiential knowledge, it is important for us to do
the best we can to take in the great sacrifice and how the
death of Yeshua played a vital role in his future place
where he will reign as King Messiah. His worthiness to
rule all the created order was confirmed by his
willingness to suffer and die to bring atonement for
Israel and the Nations.

As we conclude Pesach, the celebration of redemption
from Egypt may we be mindful also of the second
redemption, the redemption that was brought about by
Yeshua, who was the great Passover lamb.

May we honor him, who is worthy to play his role as the
Lion of the Tribe of Judah, because of his being the
“slaughtered Lamb,” and joyfully join the chorus with
these words:

Worthy is the lamb that was slain, and has
redeemed us to God by his blood, to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honor, and glory, and
blessing! Blessing, and honor, glory, and
power, be unto him who sits upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and
ever.
Revelation 5:12-13




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