In this sermon, the preacher focuses on two passages from the Bible: Revelation 4 and Mark 4. In Revelation 4, John sees a vision of God on his throne, surrounded by creatures praising him. The preacher explains the significance of the sealed scroll in God's right hand. In Mark 4, Jesus calms a fierce storm, demonstrating his power over nature. The preacher emphasizes the importance of having faith and not being timid in the face of challenges. Additionally, the sermon highlights the teachings of Jesus on turning the other cheek and being kind to others.

a book written inside and on the back sealed up with seven seals and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals and no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it and one of the elders said to me stop weeping behold the lion that is from the tribe of Judah the root of David has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals and I saw between the throne with the four living creatures and the elders a lamb standing as if slain having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth and he came and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne and when he had taken the book the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the lamb having each one a harp and golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints and they sang a new song saying worthy art thou to take the book and to break its seals for thou was slain and didst purchase for God with thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation and thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priest to our God and they will reign upon the earth and I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands that is millions saying with a loud voice worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing and every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea and all things in them I heard saying to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever and the four living creatures kept saying amen and the elders fell down and worship this is surely one of the most glorious passages in all the Word of God it is immediately preceded by an entire chapter describing John's vision of God seated on his heavenly throne and he talks about in verse 5 from the throne in chapter 4 verse 5 from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and verse 6 before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass like crystal and centering around the throne for living creatures and so on these creatures crying out holy holy holy and everyone falling down and saying worthy art thou Lord our God to receive glory and honor and power for that is create all things and so all of this chapter 4 just giving a vision of God on his throne and then in chapter 5 though John's attention is focused on the fact that there's something in the right hand of this one who sits on the throne and that what's in his right hand is a scroll and that scroll is sealed with seven seals you know that the seal was a kind of wax thing that they would put on a document or letter seal to put the king's ring on that and that secured it and authenticated it showed whose it was and that it was for real and that you didn't break that open unless you had authority somebody give you a letter from the king to take to someone else that had his seal on it you didn't just pop that open and look in there and see what the king had written and so here is a scroll sealed with seven seals and what's inside that scroll is hidden and so the search begins for someone is worthy to open it and there's no one anywhere worthy to open that scroll that book or to break its seals no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it and John begins to weep greatly he's sobbing audibly weeping and it's left to one of the elders in this situation to tell him to stop he says someone has been found someone has overcome in such a way as to open the book now this scroll is the scroll of history future and that's made clear in the next chapter because the lamb who takes the book begins to break the seals and things begin to happen in history in other words what we see here is that history rests in the hands of God aren't you thankful for that history does not rest in the hands of wicked men and it does not rest in the hands of chance but it rests in God's hands but even more wonderful and comforting than that if you're a Christian is the fact that history now rest in the hands of the God man the Lord Jesus Christ the one who became a man and died for our sins and because of that has now been given a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and things under the earth and so he has been exalted to the right hand of God he said all authority has been given to me in heaven and upon earth so in that exalted position he comes and he takes the scroll and he is now holding the scroll of history and unfolding history and not a blessed thought as a Christian your life your future your history rest in the hands of the Redeemer exalted God man he's the one and the only one worthy to take the scroll and open the scroll up and he's holding that scroll right now your life and my life and every life whether you like it or not is resting in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ he is the one in authority and how thankful every Christian should be for that well the verses that I want us to center our attention on though are verses 5 and 6 notice verse 5 one of the elders said to me stop weeping behold the lion stop weeping behold the lion and in verse 6 and I saw between the throne with the four living creatures and the elders a lion doesn't say that does it isn't this amazing behold the lion and he says I looked and I saw a lamb that's what I want us to look at today and that is the Lord Jesus Christ lion and lamb and the first question that confronts us is how could anyone be both a lion and a lamb that's amazing isn't it behold the lion and he sees a lamb these seem like total opposites the lion is the king of beast aggressive fierce fearless and fearful to everyone around him the lamb is meek mild and helpless lambs do not usually strike terror into those that are around them there just seem to be complete opposites lions are dangerous lambs are harmless you know nobody runs in and says there's a lamb loose outside so it's not anything to be afraid of and think of even their voices the lions roar one of the loudest sounds made by any animal on the earth I was in a zoo one time I think it was in Oklahoma where there was a female a lioness that was not roaring just sort of grunting and I mean we were probably a quarter of a mile away and it was terrifying to hear I don't know what it'd be like to hear a lion roar has anybody ever heard one roar I mean if you ever hear a lion roar what was it like did it strike fear it's unbelievable isn't it the roar of a lion seemingly opposites Wang Mingdao has a short sermon on this a Chinese Christian who's now gone to be with the Lord and it was a great blessing to me really stirred me to begin to think about this but this is what Wang says he says the lion is capable of subduing other beasts but none of the other beasts can subdue the lion the lamb is completely different not only is it incapable of subduing other animals it is itself at their mercy it has no strength to resist it is not in its nature to resist and on no account will attempt to do so the lamb can be dragged listen to this the lamb can be dragged to the place of slaughter without it making the slightest effort to resist so the question is if Christ is a lion how could he be a lamb or turn around if he's a lamb how could he be a lion and yet when we look at his life we see that he is perfectly both he is perfectly a lion and he is perfectly a lamb so first of all then let's behold a little bit the line we could spend literally weeks on this but I just want to give a little bit of an overview quickly through scripture you don't need to turn to these passages if you don't want to but look at the lion like qualities of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 2 it says the Passover the Jews was at hand and Jesus went up to Jerusalem and he found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves and the money changer seated and he made a scourge of cords and drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and the oxen and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables and of those who were selling the doves he said take these things away stop making my father's house a house of merchandise his disciples remembered that it was written zeal for thy house will consume the Jews therefore answered and said to him what sign do you show us seeing that you do these things Jesus answered and said to them destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up to see the lion there I mean the temple was a huge thing and it was not just one auction it was oxen and sheep and doves and a lot it wasn't one or two men it was a lot of men and these weren't just little boys they were grown men and they were wicked men and he came in and overturned the tables of the money changers can you imagine this money scattered all over the floor people don't take kindly to that but they were terrified of him because they saw the lion of the tribe of Judah his authority was unquestionable and when they tried to question it and said well you know what are you doing he said destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up there's the lion coming through another situation mark chapter 4 let me read it to you mark 4 verse 37 there arose a fierce gale of wind and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filled filling up a fierce gale of wind we read these things you know just well it must have been a little bit of rain or it was a fierce gale of wind waves breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up and he himself was in the stern asleep on the cushion and they woke him and said to him teacher do you not care that we're perishing and being aroused he rebuked the wind and said to the sea hush be still and the wind died down and it became perfectly calm and he said to them why are you so timid how is it that you have no faith and they became very much afraid and said to one another who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him you see the lion the lion is asleep in the boat in a fierce gale of wind and they wake him up and he just said be still they they're afraid they were more afraid after the place became calm than they were when they were in the gale with the boat filling up but it was a different kind of fear wasn't but they were in the presence of the lion of the tribe of Judah mark chapter 8 we won't read this but you remember that account of the demoniac the Legion the Legion was normally 6,000 soldiers this guy was cutting himself running naked in the tombs cutting himself able to break chains and Jesus says to those demons go that's the authority of the line mark chapter 3 let me read another one from mark there's a man with a withered hand and they're watching Jesus to see whether he will heal on the Sabbath and he said to the man with a withered hand rise and come forward and he said to them is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to harm to save a life or to kill but they kept silent and after looking around at them with anger grieved at their hardness of heart he said to the man stretch out your hand and he stretched it out and his hand was restored and the Pharisees went out and immediately began to take counsel with the Herodians against him as to how they might destroy you see the lion there he stands right up in the midst of the of those enemies who were looking for an excuse to destroy and he says to that man in the presence of everybody stretch out your hand he's fearless absolutely fearless John chapter 6 he sent the disciples ahead of him across the lake and he went up in the mountain and prayed you remember he came down and there they are rowing the wind is contrary and they're out there exhausted and he comes to them walking on the storm there's the lion of the tribe of Judah John chapter 11 word comes that Lazarus is about to die and what does he do he says let's just wait a couple days until he is dead so that I can raise him from the dead and he comes in John chapter 11 verse 39 Jesus said remove the stone Martha the sister of the deceased said to him Lord by this time there will be a stance for he has been dead for days Jesus said to her did I not say to you if you believe you will see the glory of God so they removed the stone I believe that when they roll that stone back the stench was overpowering it wasn't like it was a sanitary situation it was exactly like Mary thought it would be and you know when faith hits that you know our faith tends to wilt doesn't it I mean when the stench of the tomb comes rolling out the faith just kind of goes like this it hit it hit them full force it did not look one bit more hopeful when they roll that stone back than before in fact it looked worse and what does he do he says father I thank you that you've heard me already I'm just saying this for the sake of those that are around me Lazarus come forth and he that was dead gets up and comes out of there there's the lion you see Matthew 22 he's dealing with those scribes and Pharisees they come up and they start asking him questions to capture him and they end up being captured themselves you remember what it says after that no one dared to ask him any more questions they didn't even dare to ask him questions because he was a lion they were afraid of him many times there was this sense I mean those officers went out to take him and they came away just by listening to him they were they were too afraid to do anything they said nobody's ever talked like this before no man ever spoke the way this man speaks they came out to take this lamb and they encountered a lion and they got scared and left him alone Matthew 23 you see the lion thundering out these whoa whoa do you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites you bind up these heavy burdens and put them on men's shoulders you don't touch one of them with your little finger see there's a lion even in his death you see the lion coming through at times Matt John 10 verse 18 he said no man takes my life from me I lay it down on my own initiative I have power to lay it down I have power to take it again this commandment have I received from my father so he's in complete control on the way to the cross he says daughters of Jerusalem don't weep for me weep for yourselves for your children I'm not an object of pity John 18 they're in the garden they come seeking him and he says they said he said who do you seek they said Jesus of Nazareth he said I am and they lurched backward and fell to the ground what happened there they there was a little bit of the glory the authority of the line that came through whenever they whenever he said I am you see the line even on the cross Luke 23 he's handing out from the cross places in paradise today you shall be with me in paradise that's the line behold the lion but also he is the perfect lamb the very incarnation itself think of this he who existed in the form of God did not think equality with God a thing to be grasped or held on to but emptied himself and came down the one who had to humble himself to even look at the things on the earth humbles himself so much that he becomes a helpless baby that's the lamb he takes the position you can see it in the very incarnation itself this coming down and becoming a lamb brother Bob referred to that in his prayer right there in the incarnation already he's taking the position of a land where does he choose to be born will not Jerusalem where the religious capital of the world but this little out-of-the-way place Bethlehem and what parents is he going to have not learned rabbis not Gamaliel or somebody like that but this unknown carpenter under what conditions will he be born you see he chose all this ahead of time he planned all this out it wasn't chance Jesus plans out in connection with the father plans out where will you be born will you be born in Bethlehem to a carpenter and his wife and you'll be born in a stable with a bunch of animals that was all chosen what profession will he have will have grow up being a carpenter working with his hand what place oh some nice you know high society place like Nazareth that everybody hates and tell jokes about can any good thing come out of Nazareth there was proverbial when john the baptist first lays eyes on him you know that's what he said behold the lamb behold the lamb of God so then secondly let's behold the lamb a little bit think of his submission to insults not this is the this is a lion but you come up to him and start insulting him and he takes a position of a lamb think of this do we not rightly say that you're a Samaritan and have a demon you know you Samaritan see that was a hated thing amongst the Jews what an insult you're nothing but a Samaritan and you have a demon another place they said he's it he has a demon and is insane why do you listen to you realize the one who spoke the sermon on the mount they said he was insane and he put up with that he was that he was like a lamb allowing them to insult him his own family that says they came out they said he's lost his senses his own family came out after this man cast out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons he's Satan possessed that's the reason he can do all this stuff we heard that deceiver when he was alive that deceiver said that he was going to rise again they called him a liar and a deceiver and he endured all that he submitted to insults not only that he meekly endured and was so patient with his own disciples I mean that's even takes more really in a way more lamb like qualities to put up with that he's just got through talking about how he's going to suffer and die and the mother of two of the disciples comes up she said I want you to do something for us my two sons could they set one on your right hand one on your left hand when you come into your kingdom to imagine the patience the lamb like characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ the one that's incredible to me Luke 22 there at the time of the Last Supper he's ready to go to the Garden of Gethsemane and carry that the most awful load that anyone has ever carried and while they're in the upper room it says a dispute arose between the disciples as to who would be the greatest incredible and what's he doing in the meanwhile washing the disciples feet there's a lamb his dealings with Peter and Luke 22 Peter says though though all deny you I won't deny you I'm ready to go with you even under death and the way Jesus dealt with him with such tenderness such lamb like characteristics of Peter the cock won't crow before you deny me three times but he says I've prayed for you Satan has desired to shift you like wheat but I prayed for you that your faith won't fail and when you turn again you'll be stronger you'll be able to help the others think of the lamb likeness of his dealings with Peter he lived as a lamb he died as a lamb let me just read some of it to you behold the Lamb of God now he who was betraying him gave them a sign saying whomever I shall kiss he's the one sees him immediately came to Jesus and said hail rabbi and kissed him Jesus said to him friend do what you have come for then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized him a little bit further down then they spat in his face and beat him with their fist and others slapped him and said prophesied to us you Christ who is the one who hit you and again a little bit later then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around him and they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him and after weaving a crown of thorns they put it on his head and a reed in his right hand and they kneeled down before him and mocked him saying hail king of the Jews and they spat on him and took the reed and began to beat him on the head and after they had mocked him they took his robe off and put his garments on him and led him away to crucify him behold the lamb and when he was on the cross those who were passing by were hurling abuse at him wagging their heads and saying you destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days save yourself if you're the son of God come down from the cross and in the same way the chief priest along with the scribes and elders were mocking him he's the ruler their passers-by rulers too they were mocking him saying he saved others he cannot save himself he's the king of Israel let him now come down from the cross and we shall believe in him he trusts in God let him deliver him now if he takes pleasure in him for he said I am the Son of God and the robbers also who had been crucified with him were casting the same insult at him it was a veritable chorus of people shouting save yourself save yourself come down do something now what's the matter with you and you see all he would have had to have done is roar and they would have all been dead that's the truth he said don't you realize I could right now appeal to my father and he'd give me at once more than 12 legions of angels a legion is 6,000 12 legions 72,000 angels one angel in the Old Testament would come through and wipe out an army just like that what would 12 legions of angels have done you see absolute lamb like quality there on the cross enduring these things as they're all shouting save yourself and come down he couldn't save himself he didn't save himself because he had voluntarily taken the position of a lamb and he was absolutely lamb like 1st Peter 2 23 while being reviled he did not revile in return while suffering he uttered no threats but kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously the lamb like quality of the Lord Jesus Christ Isaiah 53 7 he was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he did not open his mouth like a lamb that is led to slaughter and like a sheep that is silent before its shearer so he did not open his mouth 1st Peter 1 19 knowing that you are not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ the Lord Jesus Christ both perfect lion and perfect lamb fearless absolutely fearless and yet meek majestic and yet lowly terrifying yet approachable little children even coming to uncompromising absolutely uncompromising and unbending and yet merciful ferocious with zeal yet quiet and steady and self-possessed now as Christians we ought to be like the Lord Jesus Christ in fact how Peter even says that when stuff when it comes to suffering insults and slanders and wrongs we ought to be like lamb let me just read it to you from 1st Peter 2 says servants be submissive to your masters with all respect not only those who are good and gentle but also to those who are unreasonable or this finds favor with before this finds favor if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly for what credit is there when you sin and are harshly treated you endure it with patience but if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it this finds favor with God for you have been called for this purpose since Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps who committed no sin nor is any deceit found in his mouth and while being reviled he did not revile in return while suffering he uttered no threats but kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously so we are supposed to be like the Lord Jesus whenever we are insulted and mistreated slandered and wrong were to be like lambs the Lord himself taught this in the Sermon on the Mount this is Matthew 5 let me read it you have heard that it was said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth but I say to you do not resist him who is evil whoever slaps you on your right cheek turn to him the other also if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt let him have your coat also and whoever shall force you to go one mile go with him to give to him who asked of you and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you know the words be lambs that's what he said second Timothy 2 24 and 25 the Lord's bond servant must not be quarrelsome but be kind to all able to teach patient when wronged with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth well we could go on and on where to be lambs on the other hand when it comes to truth and righteousness and taking a stand for God and when it comes to not being intimidated by threats or by the possibility of personal loss we're supposed to be lions aren't we Philippians 1 28 and 29 in nothing terrified by your adversaries which is a sign of destruction for them but of salvation for you and that too from God for to you it has been granted for Christ's sake not only believe in him but also to suffer for his sake second Timothy 1 7 God has not given us a spirit of timidity but a power and love and of a sound mind do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or me his so we are to be lions in those situations. Acts 4 8 here's an example Peter then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them rulers and elders of the people if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man as to how this man has been made well let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified whom God raised from the dead by this name this man stands here before you in good health you remember what it says when they saw the boldness the confidence of Peter and John they marveled they took notice of them that they had been with Jesus now lion-like boldness so Christians are to be like the Lord in this Wang Mingdao has a wonderful observation on this he says professing Christians are often like lions and lambs the problem is they're like lambs during the time when they ought to be lions and they're like lions during the time when they ought to be lambs somebody shuns or insults you or slights you in some way and you react by snarling and showing your teeth that's being a lion when you ought to be a lamb somebody tries to wrong you in some way and you leap to the defensive Paul talks about that at Corinth doesn't he there were some problems going on and they were brother going against brother before the unbelievers and he says why don't you just allow yourself to be wrong why don't you be a lamb in this situation on the other hand when truth is on trial or we know we ought to speak up often aren't we often tempted to be like lambs isn't it a rotten feeling when you act like a lamb and you know you should have been a lion may the Lord help us even in times of temptation sometimes like a lamb led to the slaughter instead of like a lion roaring against the temptation think of Peter denying the Lord there with this this servant girl says weren't you one of them and he denies it he turns into a wimp he's a lot he's a lamb when he ought to be a lion by the grace of God a few chapters later he was lying by the power of the Holy Spirit what a low hour that was for Peter may God help us to be lions when we ought to be lions and lambs when we ought to be lambs so one more thing I want to say in closing in his first coming the Lord Jesus basically came as a lamb that was his period of humiliation he came to be a servant he came to suffer and he came to die for sins but he is no longer in a state of humiliation he is now in a state of exaltation did you notice that even in Revelation 5 he says I saw a lamb standing a lamb that had been slain standing he's not lying there dead you know this dead bleeding lamb he is he standing in other words he has died yes but now he's risen and he's exalted and he's standing up and he's got seven seven horns and seven eyes seven horns you know the horn and in the Bible represented power and authority he's got um he not only has power he has fullness of power he's got omnipotence seven horns and seven eyes representing the manifold fullness of the Spirit of God Almighty power upon him so he is exalted and fully possessing the attributes of deity so this this lamb even in Revelation is a lion he's a lamb standing being slain is a thing of the past for him now he's been exalted to the right hand of God beloved the Lord Jesus Christ will never be spat upon again and he will never be mocked again and he will never be rejected again that's over that happened the first time in the state of his humiliation but that's never going to happen again from now on he's reigning seated at the right hand of God and the next time he comes he will come as a lion he says when the Son of Man comes in the glory of his father and the holy angels with him then will he sit on his glorious throne and all the nations will be gathered before him the entire world and he'll separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats and he'll say to those on his left hand depart from me you curse it into the everlasting fire you see that's the that's the line of the tribe of Judah second Thessalonians 1 7 the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus and these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he comes to be glorified in his saints on that day and to be marveled at among all who have believed what a thing and that we have the opportunity still to come to him as our Savior but there's a day coming when we will face him as a lion one more passage that I want to read I think this is a quite an amazing passage this is in Revelation 6 when this lamb begins to break the seals and I looked when he broke the sixth seal and there was a great earthquake and the Sun became black as sackcloth made of hair and the whole moon became like blood and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as a fig tree cast its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind and the sky was split apart like a scroll when it's rolled up and every mountain and island removed out of their places and the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains and they said to the mountains and to the rocks fall on us and hide us from the presence of him who sits on the throne and what and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of their wrath has come and who is able to stand amazing phrase in the wrath of the Lamb Rams don't have have wrath but you see this lamb is also alive and it's talking about him coming as a line the one who died for sinners will one day be their judge you know men are not going to have any kind of excuse then well you didn't know what it was like to be rejected you didn't know what it was like to go through the things that I went through yes he did and he knew it ten thousand times more than any raw deal you've ever gotten and he will come and there'll be no excuses then for the rotten attitudes and the rebellion and the rejection of what's right and what's good well let's pray Oh Lord we thank you so much that though you are the lion that could easily destroy us and tear us to pieces that you that you freely chose to become a lamb and to suffer and die for those who would put you to death themselves who hated you Lord forgive us for how our sins have crucified you and Lord we pray that you would help us to give ourselves totally to you as our lion and our lamb our protector and our Savior our Lord and Master we thank you for humbling yourself not only to look at this world but to come down and be born into this world and to die for our sins have mercy upon each one here today in Jesus name amen amen well we normally every Sunday have a meal we decided not to do