Eve of the Ascension

Revelation 5:1-13

On this, the eve of the Ascension, The Daily Office lectionary invites us to dip our toes into the book of Revelation. Few books of the Bible have been more misunderstood than this one. The author of this book was steeped in the Old Testament. And many of the images only make sense when understood as drawing upon the symbols of the Old Testament, as well as symbols of the Roman Empire. In other words, Revelation is largely a vision in which the Spirit used the symbolic language that the author best understood.

And while many of the images are extremely violent, much of the message of Revelation is, in fact, about the infinite patience of God. Take the scroll in today’s reading, the one with seven seals, about which the angels asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” Certainly, up there in heaven, God could break open the scroll and read it. It’s his plan for the final completion of all things, after all. But God waits…for humanity to open it. God waits for the human being who is worthy to open the scroll and reveal God’s will for the world. God waits for the right man to open the scroll and begin the process of redemption.

And who is found worthy to open the scroll? First we are told that “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” This alludes to the great King David, who certainly was Israel’s greatest warrior-king. The language here is violent and warlike. And it reflects the OT tradition of a messiah who would repay the Gentiles for all their violent oppression of God’s chosen people.

But when our prophet turns to look, what does he see but “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.” It’s as if the visionary is telling his listeners, wherever you read of a conquering lion in the Old Testament, insert the slain Lamb, Jesus Christ. And there the Lamb will stay and call to us, until, “from every tribe and language and people and nation,” the whole world is persuaded that its only hope is in the love of the Lamb of God.

Jesus is no longer with us in flesh. But he is with God, in the scarred hands, feet, and side. And we need not fear his lion-like power, for what the Lamb always reveals to us is his love, and his patience.