The Triumphal Entry of
Jesus that we remember each year on Palm Sunday was a spontaneous event of
enthusiasm by the people of Jerusalem for a political solution to the ongoing
problem of foreign domination by the Romans that they hoped Jesus was about to bring
to an end. Their shouts for a king in
David’s line were indeed accurate, Jesus was worthy to sit on that throne, but
he had other intentions from the beginning.
That unexpected role reversal, from claiming a throne to suffering as a
servant, is mirrored in the vision that John sees of the End Times that he
recorded in Revelation.
In chapter five of Revelation, John sees God holding a
scroll that cannot be opened by any created being. That scroll signifies the beginning of the
end of history, the final judgment on creation and the culmination of the
redemptive plan of God. Who has the
right to decide that such a time is at hand?
Who could be holy enough, righteous enough, to open such a scroll? At that point the Lion of the tribe of Judah
steps forth, he is worthy. But then
something remarkable happens. In the
very next verse, it is not the Lion, the mighty king, who takes the scroll from
the hand of the Father, but the Lamb who was slain.
Jesus had the right as King of kings and Lord of lords to
open the scroll, the Son of God and the Son of Man has every right to do so,
but he once again approaches this responsibility with the same humility and
obedience that led Jesus to Calvary less than a week after the shouts of “Hosanna”.
The Cross and the Empty Tomb are the great reversal of
all of history. There humility defeated pride,
love triumphed over hatred, and a sinless and spotless life triumphed by giving
itself up over death. In our world,
power, wealth, and fame are revered, sought and fought over, but not so in the
kingdom of God. The Lamb at the center
of the praise and worship in John’s vision is honored because he put others
before himself. He is lifted up and
glorified by ever increasing numbers until all of creation joins in the song
because he was willing to kneel before the will of the Father. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
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