This past weekend Christians around the world gathered together to celebrate Easter. In the first time in the history of the world, Christians were not able to meet in person, in places of worship, and were prevented from gathering together because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Disease, pestilence, and illness, prevented faithful Christian believers from congregational worship in their places of worship. It is during this time that the Jewish people also gather to celebrate Passover (Pesach). These two holidays stand as the most significant for both religions.

For Christians, Easter, which is better labeled Resurrection Sunday, is the celebration of God’s redemption through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that ultimately culminated in the cosmic redemption of all mankind. For the Jewish, Passover is the celebration of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. Interestingly enough, pestilence also surrounds the narrative of the Passover in Exodus. Passover and Resurrection Sunday are closely related for a number of reasons. First, while Egypt was afflicted with pestilences (which we now can all relate to better), Jesus healed people’s infirmities. Second, while the Israelites were freed from slavery to the Egyptians, Christ came to free us from our slavery to sin. Third, while the Israelites were told to slaughter a lamb, splatter its blood onto their doorposts, and wait for deliverance, Jesus offered himself up as the ultimate Passover Lamb so that the whole world would be saved from death, the devil, and the wrath of God.

Traditionally, Christian sermons around Easter recall the events of the Passion Week from one of the four Gospels. However, there is an uncommon text from the book of Revelation that speaks of the awesome power Jesus Christ, Revelation 5. This year, I heard one of my professors (Dr. Milioni) preach on this pericope, and it gave me a new perspective on Resurrection Sunday. Revelation 5 unveils a heavenly scene like no other in the Bible. In this chapter, people from every tribe, tongue, nation, and peoples are gathered around the throne of God joined by other living creatures, elders, and thousands upon thousands of angels.

The Apostle John is caught in this unusual and perplexing scene where God is seen holding a scroll in his right hand, which had writings on both sides sealed with 7 seals. In this scene, a mighty angel asks, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” As John looks around, he falls into despair, because no one in sight could open it, so he breaks out in weeping. But as John is weeping his cry is interrupted, “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5).

Jesus has triumphed, says the elder! He is depicted as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” This one like a Lion is the only one able to open the scroll and its seven seals. His death on the cross was the payment. 1 Peter 3:21-22 says, “It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” Jesus’ resurrection is proof that he is the ultimate Lion of the Tribe of Judah that would bring into fulfillment all of the Messianic promises of the Old Testament. Through his death and resurrection are the panacea to the chaos that threw the world out of balance.

Suddenly, the scene changes. The Lion is transformed. John says he saw a Lamb. The Lion was also the Lamb. The Lamb looked liked it had been slain. This scene was but a reminder of what another John, John the Baptist, had already proclaimed, Jesus is “the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Christ’s sacrifice, which the world saw as a weakness, evidenced by the the crowd who asked him to be crucified, the priests who mocked him, and the Roman soldiers who abused him. His sacrifice purchased the salvation of the nations. Further, it was the very sacrifice Jesus performed on the cross that gave him the power to open the scroll none could open, not even the mighty heavenly angel.

It is upon this heavenly scene that the whole host of heaven burst into a divine chorus, singing,

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons 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” (Revelation 5:9-10)

Note that his worthiness is tied to his sacrifice. His blood is the currency that purchased the right given to him to open the scroll and break its seals. And the best part? The saints from all around the world are the main beneficiaries!! They are turned into kingdom citizens, priests, and eternal rulers over the earth. In other words, Christus Victor (Christ Victorious), through his atonement appeased the wrath of God, defeated all that was evil, and restored the order of creation. His resurrection is proof that his atonement was efficacious. Now, there is only one thing we are left to do: worship him.

The final scene of Revelation 5 says it all,

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying” To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Written by Daniel Messina