Revelation 5:11-14

The Third Sunday of Easter

Shepherd of the Hills Ev. Lutheran Church (WELS)

Easter Revelations: He Is Worthy of Praise 

Revelation 5:11-14

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (NIV)

Famous for having defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington also had a reputation among his men as a harsh leader.   The British military leader, a genius on the battlefield, was not known to be generous with praise or affirmation for those beneath him.  But in the later part of his life, when asked by a younger lady if there was anything he’d do differently in his life if given the opportunity to relive it, he recognized something that was lacking.  After having considered her question briefly, he gave her an answer.  “I’d give more praise,” he replied. 

It may be that Wellington’s regret is one shared by a lot of us.  While I doubt for a moment that a single one of us would struggle to readily receive words of praise with open ears and a glad heart, few of us are as quick to be on the other end of praise – to be the ones dishing it out.  Indeed, we’re like the little boy who demonstrated the innate need of praise that we all share when he invited his father to spend time with him.  He said, “Let’s play darts.  I’ll throw, and you say ‘Great job!’”  We have a strong desire to receive praise, but don’t as naturally extend it to others…

Even to the One deserving our praise far and above more than everyone else, Jesus.  Our Easter Revelation this morning reveals to us why He Is Worthy of Praise.  Let us look again at the vision displayed before John’s eyes in the book of Revelation to clearly see why.

I. Worthy As the Lamb Who Was Slain

John revealed, “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (v.11,12).  How many were present, praising the Lord with their voices in John’s vision?  We think back to God’s covenant promise to Abraham that the number of his descendants would rival the stars in the sky and the sand on the shore.  The vision here seems to reveal a similar idea, that the number of angels and creatures and all who were present was far beyond anyone’s count.  Standing from the perspective of the Lamb on the throne looking out, all that would be visible in every direction would be angels and created beings surrounding the throne and praising the lamb. And why? “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain” (v.12).  Because the Lamb was sacrificed.

Even today we praise those who sacrifice their lives for the sake of others.  Such sacrifice is why past wars have left their permanent imprint on history – such wars are recorded in books written in the very blood of the sacrificial sons and daughters who gave their lives for a greater good.  And how many tear-jerking stories of sacrifice came out of the events of September 11, 2001, stories that cannot be told today with dry eyes by those who are alive because of them?  Then there are local stories in every neighborhood and community of citizens dying to help or save others, stories that do actually occur, but get lost in the constant barrage of news updates we’re used to receiving every minute of every day.  Sacrifice is everywhere.

So great an impact does it leave on us that we very commonly will recognize sacrifice in a number of ways.  A fallen police officer has a park named after him as a memorial.  A street is named after a soldier who gave his life in battle.  A special day or commemoration is held at a certain time and / or place each year to recognize the sacrifice someone has made.  We value sacrifice.  It is greatly appreciated, and we recognize it whenever possible.

Sadly, the praise expressed for sacrifices in this world will very soon be forgotten.  Even when streets are named, memorials erected, and holidays declared in praise of past sacrifices, so soon do such things lose connection with their original intent.  The street name and its significance becomes lost in the endless sea of streets in any community.  The memorial may remain a landmark, but the memories and praise associated with it quickly fade.  Holidays become nothing more than a break from the mundane routine of work, opportunities to celebrate with family and friends, rather than commemorate the very sacrifices that brought about the holiday in the first place.

But there is only one sacrifice on earth that is worthy of the praise demonstrated in our Easter Revelation this morning, and it is a sacrifice that will never be forgotten: the sacrifice of Jesus.  Yes, when it comes to praise, Jesus is worthy as the Lamb who was slain.  Without taking anything away from the sacrifices of men and women throughout history, there is no question that no sacrifice in the world is as deserving of praise as the sacrifice of Jesus.  His sacrifice was far superior because it happened one time, and it benefited every human throughout history.  The blood spilled by the Lamb reaches out to atone all people, to satisfy all sin, to pay the redemption price demanded of every soul enslaved by sin.  No sacrifice was so precious, so priceless – even all the praise in the world would be insufficient.

How does that worldly praise compare to the praise directed at the Lamb who was slain?  To our shame we might point out the uncanny similarities.  Parents praise the Lamb who was slain as they allow the life-giving waters of baptism to trickle down their child’s face, only to have that praise fade away in the empty seats in Sunday school shortly after.  Teenagers praise the Lamb who was slain as they vow before a congregation and before the Lamb himself to take full responsibility for their faith and to continue growing in grace throughout life, only to have that praise drift away in the vacant pews of God’s house already the next Sunday and beyond.  Christians belt out their praise to the Lamb who was slain in this place each and every Sunday, only to exit the doors of the sanctuary and have the echoes of that praise drowned out by living that so quickly betrays it.  Indeed, the praise of lips on Sunday morning is not mirrored by the praise of lives Monday through Saturday.

We must admit that such petty praise reveals our true nature, doesn’t it?  And that true nature isn’t pretty.  It’s downright ugly and full of sin.  But then, when we recognize that even our praise is itself an indication of our shortfalls before God, the sacrifice of the Lamb refreshes us anew all over again.  The blood of the Lamb even covers poor excuses for praise.  And with that deeper understanding of the depth and degree of Jesus’ sacrifice come new songs of praise, swelling up in our hearts and lives, which long to be expressed in this way and that.  A tired tune finds new life as it is sung by a renewed heart.  A half-hearted prayer is replaced with confident conversations with God.  Giving is generous and joy-filled instead of paltry and pigheaded.  When the good news of forgiveness in Christ Jesus rejuvenates our hearts and lives, praise flows naturally and abundantly in every way possible…

I. Worthy As the Lamb Who Will Reign

As it did in John’s vision in our Easter Revelation this morning.  You see, praise is such a heavenly priority that another reason for praise was revealed to John.  Not only is it true that Jesus is worthy as the Lamb who was slain, but also as the Lamb who will reign.  The sacrifice of Jesus for all people is unique from every worldly sacrifice in another way: the sacrifice came to life again.  No news story in history tells of a sacrificial death that involves a resurrected sacrifice, except one, the account of Jesus.  His is a story of a sacrifice death that was reversed as a result of the Resurrection.  The Lamb who was slain became the Lamb who will reign.  And for that reason, too, he is worthy of our praise.

The world doles out praise to worldly rulers and authorities.  Just as those who sacrifice their lives to serve others are recognized in various ways, so also are those whose rule and reign is viewed as being exceptional or noteworthy.  We hear of leaders whose conquering forces established vast kingdoms and empires.  We know of some past Presidents of our own country better because of their accomplishments than others whose presidency was largely forgettable.  And we praise them.

So we do the same for the Lamb who does and who always will reign.  Believers praise the Lamb who will reign with hearts that trust his reign over all things for our good, even when the evidence seen with our physical sight doesn’t match that seen with our spiritual sight.  We praise the Lamb who will reign as loyal servants of the risen King who let their light shine all the more in a world that wants only to snuff out that light more and more.  Christians all over the world praise the Lamb who will reign in the face of persecution with the full knowledge that physical harm or even death may result.  And although our praise is seldom what it should be when it leaves our lips, it is always perfect praise that reaches the ears of the Father, for the Lamb who was slain has made it perfect for the Lamb who will reign.

Jesus is worthy of our praise, worthy as the Lamb who was slain, and worthy as the Lamb who will reign.  He is deserving of all praise.

But that isn’t to say that he’s the only one who benefits from it.

The beauty of our praise to the Lamb is that it also blesses us.  It blesses us because as we praise, we proclaim.  In our praise we are proclaiming what the Lamb has done on our behalf.  Our hymns of praise are nothing more than proclamations of the saving works of our Almighty and gracious God.  And while he is honored and glorified by such praise, we are also edified and built up.  To praise is to proclaim.  To proclaim is to praise.  The scene in Revelation reveals this to be true, as the cause of celebration and the purpose of praise is rooted in the One who was slain, who is also the One who will reign.  May his name and his works be proclaimed fervently throughout the earth now and always, and by doing so, may he be praised. 

At a conference of a Presbyterian church in Omaha, people were given helium filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were Presbyterians (they could just as easily have been Lutherans!), they weren't accustomed to expressing such praise in a visible way.  All through the service balloons ascended, but when it was over, 1/3 of the balloons were still unreleased.  Brothers and sisters, don’t hang on to your balloons of praise. Let your balloon go.  Praise the Lord, for the Lamb who was slain is also the Lamb who will reign.  Amen.

                                                              

“For the freer confidence is from one’s own works, and the more exclusively it is directed toward Christ alone, so much better is the Christian it makes.” (Luther)