A Lion, a Shoot, a Lamb

“Judah is a lion’s cub… The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him.” Genesis 49:9-10

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit... He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.“ Isaiah 11:1; 53:7

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,  and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.  And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’

^“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

‘Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation.'” Revelation 5:1-9

Weep no more, the King has come! Worthy is our Christmas King! Fear no more, the Lion reigns! Worthy is the Lion of Judah! Look no more, the Stump has sprouted. Worthy is the Shoot of Jesse! Be burdened no more, the Lamb has come to carry the sin of the world! Worthy is the Lamb!

Promised as a conquering Lion, foretold as springing from the root of Jesse’s (David’s) line, the Passover Lamb came to Bethlehem, was slain at Calvary, then raised to life, and now reigns as perfect, holy Regent. Will we fall, bow, and sing? Will we take up our instruments, be they musical, practical, or lyrical, and cry, “Worthy!”? Will we hold out our years of prayers, our unmet longings, our pleas, our ‘how longs,’ and offer them as fragrant incense to the One who is worthy of a new song? (Zechariah 14:21)

How will we bless His name, honor His holiness, and glorify His loveliness and splendor today?

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:12,13)

Amen and Amen!