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THERE’S ALWAYS MORE MESSIAH #4
WORTHY IS THE LAMB
Anywhere you travel in the world, it’s always an exciting
development when a new man or woman is suddenly thrust into a position
of prominence, of power. Before they were just one of the masses . . .
oh, maybe a governor or senator or alderman. But all at once — boom! They
occupy the top spot of authority.
Especially since this week of Christmas programs is traveling around the
world via Adventist World Radio, reaching a broader-than-usual global
audience, we couldn’t help but notice that our friends in Germany recently
had this experience. Back on September 27, Mr. Gerhard Schröder vaulted
into power, replacing Helmut Kohl as Chancellor. And so the question comes
immediately to mind: can this 54-year-old, whose Social Democratic Party
got just 40 percent of the vote, succeed? Can he forge a successful alliance
with Germany’s Green Party, and deliver on his promise to provide a “stable,
workable government”?
Here in the U.S., as most of you know, our November election was rather
a stunning upset. Republicans, expecting to gain seats in both the House
and the Senate, instead lost ground. And it blew people away when three
days later, House Speaker Newt Gingrich announced he was stepping down,
leaving not only his post but the House itself. Representative Bob Livingstone
would take over in leading the 435 members of the lower chamber.
And we ask: should these people receive such power? Are they worthy? Are
they deserving? An Encarta CD-ROM encyclopedia article about Handel got
rather flowery, calling him “(quote) one of the greatest composers of
the late baroque period and, during his lifetime, perhaps the most internationally
famous of ALL musicians . . . [with] rich and unique musical genius.”
Does he deserve that kind of praise and glory?
Well, there’s one time that question is asked, and you don’t have to run
a poll or watch CNN’s World Report to discover the answer. Because on
Christmas Eve, friend, we think about a little Baby born to this world.
And even as a newborn infant, He was in a position of power. Even in that
manger — in a BARN — this shriveled, crying, baby with the cut cord like
any other baby . . . was a King. Have you sung already this December:
“Come and worship, Come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King”?
And the onlooker asks: Why? Worship a little Baby? Why? What has He done
to deserve it? Why do these “three kings of Orient” bow down, kneel down,
touch their foreheads to the ground for a Baby? Gerhard Schröder
has at least earned some respect with all those votes cast for him. But
why does this unknown Baby, born to two young people not even married,
have a right, not only to our respect, but our worship?
Well, we find the answer to that question in the book of Revelation, and
also in this great anthem from Handel’s Messiah. It comes right at the
end; in fact, this is the final chorus, #53: Worthy Is the Lamb and then
the long, majestic Amen which runs seven pages. But here is Revelation
chapter five, verses 12 and 13:
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which
is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in
the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing and honor,
and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto
the Lamb for ever and ever.”
Well, we get the answer immediately about WHY this
Baby deserves the power and the riches and the glory. Friend, it’s because
He’s the Lamb. Worthy is the LAMB that was slain. It’s not because He
was born in a manger that He was worthy. It’s because He grew to be a
Man and because that Man, at the age of 33, went to a hill called Calvary
and He paid the price for my sins and for your sins. And THAT is why He
is worthy here on Christmas Eve. THAT is why we say, “Give Him the honor!
Give Him the power! We can trust Him with the power because He’s the Lamb,
because of what He did! Let’s give Him the glory because He earned it
on a hill far, far, away.”
Notice that the whole universe joins in on this chorus. Every creature
on this earth, to be sure, but also those in heaven and on the far-flung
worlds of God’s vast universe. “A hundred billion angels,” says one paraphrase
version. They all watched the Baby get born; they watched Him grow up.
And then they watched as He gave Himself as the Lamb. So if you want surround-sound
power as it’s sung by people in all corners of the universe — north, south,
east, west, up, down, near and far — this is the song. “Worthy is the
Lamb!”
But now a question for each of you. And on Christmas Eve, I really don’t
know who’s listening. Some of our regulars are missing today, I’m sure
. . . and there might be someone listening for the very first time and
I may never get the chance to say this again to you. So here goes: “What
about YOU?” Meaning — what will YOU do about this infant Christ child,
this Lamb?
Does He receive honor and glory? Yes, but does He receive it from YOU?
“All power be unto Him,” some of us sing. And the angels and the saints.
But friend, do YOU sing it today? Jesus lives today, and He does have
power, but does He have it for your life? Do you give Him that authority?
I like that praise song: “Lord of all, of all seen and unseen things.
Of a universe that sings and calls you Lord of all. Lord of all, of the
power not to sin. You have always been, and always will be . . . Lord
of all.” And yet we come to this moment, this one radio connection, on
Christmas Eve, where YOU decide if He will be your Lord. Think of that
word — LORD — and what it implies here on December 24 for YOU. Lord of
ALL; does that include you?
Marjorie Lewis Lloyd, who penned such classic messages for It Is Written
television, once observed:
“If we are on a sinking ship, it is not enough to applaud
the lifeboat. We must get into it.”
And you know, she’s right. Friend, this Lamb IS worthy.
I hope that in the next three-and-a-half minutes, you’ll decide that He’s
worthy of YOUR love.
SONG: WORTHY IS THE LAMB. 3:53
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