A S P E C T S - a monthly devotional journal [For subscription information on receiving Aspects every month via e-mail, or the laser-printed edition by mail, see NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION near the end of this file.] Aspects is written by David S. Lampel. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Issue #25, December 1992 (Internet Edition) W O R S H I P T H E L A M B T H A T W A S S L A I N ! R E V E L A T I O N 5 : 1 1 - 1 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: Perspective - Triumph Through Death Perspective - Living to Die Perspective - God Has Provided the Lamb Perspective - Dying to Live Perspective - You Will Drink of the Cup Perspective - They'll Never Understand Perspective - Praise the Name of Jesus! ----------------------------------------------------------------- He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (1) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (2) _________________________ John was a very old man, only a few years of his long and rich life remaining, and living in exile on the island of Patmos. One day, in the Spirit, he was invited up to see "what must take place after these things." And what magnificent things he saw!....a glorious throne where the Almighty sat surrounded by an emerald rainbow and a sea like crystalline glass; he saw the Almighty One surrounded, too, by twenty-four elders and four living creatures. John tells us, in the fourth chapter of Revelation, how the inhabitants of heaven are spending their time. It is also a picture of our occupation, once we've passed through the heavenly gates: "Day and night, never ceasing, they are worshipping God: `Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, Who was, Who is, and Who is to come'. "They fall down and worship Him, casting their crowns before the throne, saying: `You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power! For You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.'" (4) As this scene develops, John sees a scroll--rolled up and sealed--in the right hand of the Almighty.(5) An angel steps forward and cries out: "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" Silence. Silence everywhere throughout the cosmos, for there was no one to be found with suitable virtue and righteousness who could break open the seals; no angel, no saint, no one sufficiently worthy--save Jesus Christ, the Lamb. _________________________ "The thing we ought to purpose to ourselves in this life is to become the most perfect worshippers of God we can possibly be--as we will be through all eternity." (3) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - T R I U M P H T H R O U G H D E A T H ------------- Any simpleton knows that when a battle ends with your own death, chances are good that you have not won, but lost. Then it should be no surprise to us that the world looks so disdainfully upon the Christian and the gospel in which he believes. For it is utter foolishness. (6) Jesus won the struggle over death by dying. He won the right to claim victory because He died. _________________________ Overcome: NIKAO, to win a victory, to conquer, to triumph; as in ROM 3:4 ROM 12:21 JOH 16:33 1JO 2:13 REV 3:21 REV 17:14 _________________________ >From His place in eternity, Jesus initiated history. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (7) Then He stepped out of eternity and into history to begin the process of salvation that would result in His death and the opportunity for eternal life for mankind. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. (8) It all climaxed at the cross when Jesus died. At that moment, His death proclaimed victory over death for mankind. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (9) But then came the event that set Jesus apart from every other savior that had ever lived and died: Jesus lived again. He walked out of the tomb to step out of history and back into eternity. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. (10) Blessings upon the gracious Holy Spirit, who has illuminated our minds with the wisdom that remains a mystery to the rulers and inhabitants of this age. (11) Jesus Christ is Lord! He has paid the price--even unto death--and now death itself is the vanquished and the Savior who died has now been returned to the forever in which He has always lived. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - L I V I N G T O D I E ------------- My Webster's dictionary says that someone who has been slain has been "killed or destroyed in a violent way." "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain . . ." When the Old Testament sinner would slay a lamb for his sin offering that lamb would be thoroughly done in. Indeed, it would be destroyed, from ear to ear, and eventually would serve as dinner for the priesthood. The animal had lived, then served the purpose of its living by dying for the sins of a human being. " . . . to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." There has been just one Lamb that was not an animal, but just as with the lambs that He proceeded, He lived so that He could die for the sins of human beings. Jesus was slain, killed, murdered, destroyed. He really died. It wasn't a charade or extended slumber; He ceased to live. But instead of becoming somebody's dinner, Jesus lived again. Instead of dying to utter nothingness He rose to eternal glory. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - G O D H A S P R O V I D E D T H E L A M B ------------- Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. -GEN 22:7-8 and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the LORD a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. -LEV 5:6 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. -ISA 53:7 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. -JOH 1:29-37 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. -ACT 8:32 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. -1PE 1:18-21 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." -REV 5:6-10 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." -REV 7:17 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. -REV 12:10-11 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. -REV 13:8 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." -REV 17:12-14 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. -REV 22:1-5 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - D Y I N G T O L I V E ------------- What do the words below mean to you? Are they qualities that Jesus carried with Him into heaven, or are they gifts He received there only upon His death? Are there Scripture references that support, illustrate or expand on these qualities? How do you see these qualities of Jesus impacting your life today? POWER RICHES WISDOM MIGHT or STRENGTH HONOR GLORY BLESSING or PRAISE _________________________ Worship Christ the Risen King Rise, O church, and lift your voices, Christ has conquered death and hell. Sing as all the earth rejoices; Resurrection anthems swell. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the Risen King! See the tomb where death had laid Him, Empty now, its mouth declares; "Death and I could not contain Him, For the Throne of Life He shares." Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the Risen King! Hear the earth protest and tremble, See the stone removed with pow'r; All hell's minions may assemble But cannot withstand His hour. He has conquered, He has conquered, Christ the Lord, the Risen King! Doubt may lift its head to murmur, Scoffers mock and sinners jeer; But the truth proclaims a wonder Thoughtful hearts receive with cheer. He is risen, He is risen, Now receive the Risen King! We acclaim Your life, O Jesus, Now we sing Your victory; Sin or hell may seek to seize us But Your conquest keeps us free. Stand in triumph, stand in triumph, Worship Christ, the Risen King! (12) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - Y O U W I L L D R I N K O F T H E C U P ------------- The Time: c.47 AD / The Place: Galilee [Enter Salome, the wife of Zebedee. She is in her later years. She addresses the audience confidently, comfortable with her role in history.] SALOME (proudly) Sons of Thunder! (quieter) That's what Jesus called them. Sons of Thunder. Their father would have been proud. My name is Salome--yes, Salome. Some of you may not know me by that name. There is another Salome--she of nimble feet and a fondness for the heads of prophets. No, I'm not that Salome. (proudly) I am the wife of Zebedee, mother of the disciples James and John, and sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. I was a follower of Jesus myself, (losing her prideful attitude; soberly) but not a true believer. I was there through much of His ministry, but it was curiosity that held me--not devotion. I suppose, also, it was a concern for my sons that kept me close to Jesus. You see, after my husband died, they were all I had. And when they took up with Jesus there was nothing left for me. No support. No companionship. So I followed along with them. Mostly my concern was for James. He had always been my favorite. Oh, not that I loved John any less, but good fortune and . . . respect always came easily to him. James usually needed a little help, (nostalgically) and the heart of a mother is sensitive to the child who needs her the most. (no longer nostalgic) So one day I mustered every bit of my courage and requested an audience with Jesus. You know, it's hard to explain, but He always seemed to know beforehand what you were going to say. There was always in those penetrating eyes of His a mixture of compassion and... amusement. Yes, as if He was gently amused by our ignorance and couldn't wait for the day when we would all understand what He was trying to teach us. (seriously) I did come to believe. It happened gradually--almost taking me by surprise during that horrible, dark day I stood with His mother beneath the cross. We all felt so helpless. It seemed our whole world was coming apart. It seemed . . . all was lost. Some lost their faith that day. (with growing conviction) For me, it was the day my faith began. And three days later my faith was confirmed when we went to His tomb and found it empty--just as He had told us it would be. (back to her story) Well, there I was, standing before Jesus with my two sons. I took a deep breath and blurted it out: "When You are in Your kingdom, command that my sons will sit, one on Your right and one on Your left." (anxiously) After I said it, my heart was beating so fast I thought I would faint. Jesus had every right to reward my impertinence with His wrath. Instead, He looked at me--and my sons--and said quietly, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" It was James who answered. "We are able!" (quietly) Ambition is often a sign of weakness, of . . . insecurity. It betrays the feelings of inadequacy most of us have. My son John was man of quiet confidence--a man who knew his relationship with the Savior. James didn't have this assurance. He was close to Jesus and didn't even know it. Jesus included my James in most of the inner workings of the group, but he was so busy trying to prove himself that he didn't notice: To Jesus he was already proven. So I spoke up for him. Any mother would. And he learned a priceless lesson in the answer of our Lord. James continued to mature, and after our Lord returned to the Father, he traveled about the land, sharing the news of the salvation of Jesus. (abruptly serious) That is, until Agrippa caught up with him. (with bitterness) Herod used him as an example. One dead disciple and maybe the rest would back off. (with firm pride) Well, it didn't work out that way. Yes, I miss my son. I miss his . . . his jubilant spirit, his enthusiasm. But I don't mourn him. He met his ambition. He is now with the Savior. (quickly) Oh, I know, he probably doesn't sit at His right hand. But he's there. And it won't be long before I join him. (leaning closer) Maybe then I'll find out just who is sitting next to Jesus. (13) _________________________ We Shall Be Like Him Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! (14) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - T H E Y ' L L N E V E R U N D E R S T A N D ------------- All this year we have been looking at Jesus as our example. We have been examining His life to discover what it will mean to our lives today. Jesus is our Savior, our Lord, our Master; but Jesus is also our example in all things. You need not ever wonder for long, how to respond to any situation; just examine the record and find out how Jesus would have, and you'll have your answer. The life of Jesus is a life of contrast and seeming paradoxes. Consider each of the examples below and supply the following information: 1) What Scripture references are examples of the paradox? 2) How did Jesus live out the paradox? 3) How can you display in your own life the example set by Jesus? THE PARADOX REFERENCES AS SEEN IN JESUS AS SEEN IN YOU ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lived to Die Died to Live Victoriously Became a Servant to be a King Became Last to be First Became lower than the Angels to be Crowned with Glory Became Perfect (completed) through Suffering Served others so that He could be Served Was Obedient to become Worthy of Praise ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - P R A I S E T H E N A M E O F J E S U S ! ------------- Praise the Name of Jesus, Praise the Name of Jesus. He's my Rock, He's my Fortress, He's my Deliverer, in Him will I trust. Praise the Name of Jesus! _________________________ Majesty! Worship His Majesty! Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise. Majesty! Kingdom authority Flows from His throne unto His own, His anthem raise. So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus! Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus our King! Majesty! Worship His Majesty! Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings. Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings. (16) _________________________ Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously." Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth. (15) _________________________ Crown Him With Many Crowns Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne: Hark! how the heav'nly anthem drowns all music but its own! Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee, And hail Him as thy matchless King thru all eternity, Crown Him the Lord of love: Behold His hands and side-- Rich wounds, yet visible above, in Beauty glorified. No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight, But downward bends his wond'ring eye at mysteries so bright. Crown Him the Lord of Life: Who triumphed o'er the grave, Who rose victorious to the strife for those He came to save. His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high, Who died eternal life to bring and live that death may die. Crown Him the Lord of heav'n: One with the Father known, One with the Spirit thru Him giv'n from yonder glorious throne. To Thee be endless praise, for Thou for us hast died; Be Thou, O Lord, thru endless days adored and magnified. Amen. (17) _________________________ "Jesus Christ is the centre of everything and the object of everything, and he who does not know Him knows nothing of the order of nature and nothing of himself." (18) "We have much more to receive, but God has no more to give than He has given in Jesus Christ." (19) _________________________ To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (20) ======================================================================== NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Notes ----- 1 ISA 53:7-12 NIV. 2 PHI 2:9-11. 3 Brother Lawrence, a 16th Century monk. 4 from REV 4:8-11. 5 "In REV 10:7 we are told that in the days of the sounding of the seventh trumpet 'the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.' From this it may be concluded that the scroll contains the unveiling of the 'mystery of God' that OT prophets foretold. Thus the 'seals' conceal the mystery, which only Christ can disclose (DAN 12:9; REV 10:4), of how God's judgment and his kingdom will come. In 11:15, when the final trumpet sounds, heavenly voices say, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,' indicating that the scroll also contains the announcement of the inheritance of Christ and the saints who will reign with him (5:10). The scroll, then, is not only about judgment or about the inheritance of the kingdom. Rather, it contains the announcement of the consummation of all history--how things will ultimately end for all people: judgment for the world and the final reward of the saints (11:18)." [Alan John son in The Expositor's Bi ble Commentary (Zondervan, 1984), Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, Vol 12, p467.] 6 1CO 1:18. 7 JOH 1:1-3. 8 ISA 9:6; 25:8. 9 MAT 27:51-53. 10 PSA 118:22-23; MAR 16:19. 11 1CO 2:8. 12 Jack W. Hayford, Hymn #225 in The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration (WORD, 1986). 13 You Will Drink of the Cup, from The Twelve, a series of sketches on the disciples, copyright (c) 1985, David S. Lampel; page 55 in the His Company catalog, Order #MON6. 14 MAR 10:42-45; PHI 2:3-8 NIV. 15 PSA 96:1-13 NKJV. 16 Jack W. Hayford, from his book Worship His Majesty (WORD, 1987), p.224. 17 Matthew Bridges, Godfrey Thring, Hymn #234 in The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration (WORD, 1986). 18 Blaise Pascal in More Gathered Gold (Evangelical Press, 1988), p.173. 19 John R.W. Stott in More Gathered Gold (Evangelical Press, 1988), p.173. 20 JUD 1:24-25 NIV. Copyright Information --------------------- All original material in Aspects is Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel."). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. Brief quotations not to exceed more than 500 words may be used, with the appropriate copyright notice, to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, or spoken messages. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the New International Version. NIV quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. NASB quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Subscription Information ------------------------ Aspects is published monthly. There are two preferred methods of receiving it on a regular basis: 1) You may subscribe to the laser-printed (hard copy) edition, which is sent out via regular mail. 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