This Lamb is Our Life
Ever since his bodily resurrection our Lamb is not on a cross but on a throne.
Chances are good that your life has been touched by an animal. A childhood pet, for example. The turtle who helped you come out of your shell. The cat who taught you to land on your feet. The bunny who developed your knack for tender, loving care.
The Bible calls Jesus the Lamb. Not just any lamb, either, but our precious pet Lamb to whom we are bonded forever in loving companionship. And this Lamb does more than touch our lives. This Lamb is our life.
Our Lamb is the God who pardons and forgives. Guilt, and regret, and hurt, and pain all crash down on our Lamb like a 40-ton truck rolling over a pet. Our guilt. Our regret. Our hurt. Our pain. Crushing him with their judgment in one, final act of death on the cross. Our sins have already been judged on the cross “in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). Our precious pet has suffered and died and been buried, but his death is not a mistake. His death is our forgiven life.
Ever since his bodily resurrection our Lamb is not on a cross but on a throne. Once the victim now the victor, ruling over sin and death by his resurrection power. With this power he leads us, his helpless sheep, to the waters of eternal life. “The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd” (Revelation 7:17).
You might be surprised that some animals known for their ability to hurt people are helping people. Scorpion venom kills cancerous cells, poison dart frog secretions can bring people out of cardiac arrest, and viper venom is a common ingredient in treating high blood pressure. God’s anger at sin is poisonous enough to punish anyone with painful torture now and a fatal sentence to hell forever.
But don’t be afraid!
That same God became our pet Lamb, drank our poison, and then rose victoriously from the dead to win eternal life for us. We now live a fully forgiven life today and look forward to a constantly fulfilling eternal life in heaven. The Lamb is now the Shepherd. The victim is the victor. He lives, and so do we!
PRAYER: Alleluia, Jesus! You have risen from the dead and, in you I am victorious. Let me live like it today. Guide me to face my fears with resurrection faith in your strength. Hold me near when I want to wander and let me hear your comforting voice. Take care of all my needs so that I will not worry but instead worship you as my Forgiver and Provider. Thank you for dying for me, and thank you for rising. Raise me up to a new life! Amen.