KJV Revelation 5:12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

NASB Revelation 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

There were a number of different animals used in Israel’s sacrificial system. All were prescribed by God, and all were acceptable at the altar: the bullock, goat, lamb, turtledove, and pigeon. Yet, God has chosen one from this variety of sacrificial animals to symbolize His Son eternally. It is the Lamb. John introduces Him in his Gospel as “The Lamb of God,” and he continues to depict Him as the Lamb in the book of the Revelation.

Seeing that God had a number of different animals from which to choose, all speaking of a different characteristic He valued, why is the Lamb singled out for eternal remembrance? The bullock, with its strength to fulfill its task; the goat, with its sure-footedness to never stumble on the way; and the birds, with their sensitivity, all portray and communicate precious truth about the Lord Jesus. So why the Lamb?

The Lamb tells us of the submissive character of the Saviour. He came down from Heaven to do the Father’s will (John 5:30). It was His food and focus. Leaving Heaven, His last words were, “Lo I come … to do Thy will Oh God” (Heb 10:7). There was finally a Man on earth to Whom the will of God meant everything. But, every lamb that ever went to a Jewish altar went without the knowledge of where it was going and what would be required. None ever volunteered for the altar. Significantly, John’s Gospel stresses in virtually every chapter, “Jesus knowing …” Here was intelligent, voluntary submission to the cross!

The first man, Adam, sinned. It was not merely in partaking of the fruit of the tree. It was in asserting his will against that of God. Since that moment in time, every sin has been an assertion of human will against the will of God; every sin is a mini-rebellion against the throne of God. Earth has been filled with humanity living out the dictates of self-will and filling the earth with sin and its fruit.

When the Lord Jesus came to do His Father’s will, there was a “Last Adam,” a “Second Man,” who, by submitting His will to work in unison with His Father’s will, would provide life in a scene of death, and live a life that would delight His Father’s heart. But even beyond that, through His precious blood, He would create an entirely new generation of people who, amazingly, would likewise surrender their wills to God in obedience and submission, bringing Him glory.

Little wonder that Heaven is filled with the worship of the Lamb!

Consider:

Can you think of other reasons that the Lamb is celebrated eternally?