Lamb Over Me

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.

Revelation 5:12

In Revelation 1 John saw a vision of the glorified Jesus Christ. He wore a robe and golden sash, His head and hair were white as snow, His eyes were blazing, and He shone brilliantly like the sun. John was so awestruck at Jesus’ majesty that he fell at His feet as though dead.

In Revelation 5 John is given another vision of the glorified Jesus. He is pictured as a Lamb who was slain. That’s a vastly different picture, isn’t it? However, it is a fitting vision. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God.

Throughout scripture, God connects a spotless lamb with salvation. In Genesis 22 Abraham was instructed to sacrifice his son, Isaac. God provided a ram for sacrifice, and Isaac was saved. In Exodus 12 the Israelite families escaped death by placing the blood of a spotless lamb upon their doorposts. Throughout the ceremonial law given to Moses, the sacrifice of a spotless lamb is connected with atonement of sin and removal of guilt.

These scriptural pictures point to the one true Lamb, Jesus Christ. Jesus was spotless. He lived a sinless life. From the creation of the world, God planned that Jesus would lay down His sinless life for the redemption of man. (Revelation 13:8) You were redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (I Peter 1:18-19). Upon belief in Jesus, His blood cleanses you from sin.

The Chinese word for righteousness is on the tombstone of Ruth Graham. This word, formed 3,600-5,000 years ago, is composed of two Chinese characters: the character for ‘lamb’ over the character for ‘me.’ Righteousness means ‘lamb over me.’ Friend, God’s message of salvation is woven throughout man’s history. Ruth Graham’s tombstone testifies of her belief that righteousness comes only through faith in Jesus. Have you come to personally know Jesus, God’s Lamb?

Praise to You, Lamb. …You were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9).

Jan Burkhart