The Revelation of the Lamb

…and a good breakfast by the lake…

Reading Revelation 5.11-14

I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
The four living creatures said, “Amen”, and the elders fell down and worshipped.

Gospel John 21.1-19

Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Sermon

Last week – continuous run of readings from Revelation – only ones in 3 years. Asked – “Who is God?” Answer was – God is God – Alpha and Omega – one who was and is and is to come – same God as God of OT. God is also in Jesus – the incarnate – resurrected firstborn from the dead.

This week, second reading from Revelation. If last week’s reading asked Who is God? – this week’s asks Who is Jesus? Setting is heaven. We move on from 7 letters to 7 churches. John the Seer looks. Hears song of thousands upon thousands of angels.

What are they singing? Praise to God? Not exactly. They are singing to Jesus, the Lamb of God.
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!”

Every creature in heaven and on earth joins the song. Sing to He who sits on throne – and to the Lamb. They are worthy to receive praise and glory and honour and power for ever.

So answer to question Who is Jesus? – he is the Lamb. Lamb implies sacrifice – only he could take scroll and break its seals. Jesus was Lamb that was slaughtered – in what way is he worthy? He is worthy to receive 7 things:

...power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise.

7 is the number of completeness. It is finished – and there is nothing more for him to accomplish or to receive. And so the 4 living creatures around God’s throne said Amen and the elders fell down and worshipped him.

Amen was all that was left to say, and after Easter we could well concentrate on just giving thanks for all that has been done for us. To say Amen ourselves. To give praise for the one who is the lamb, the resurrected Lord.

As a result of the empty tomb, everything changes for his disciples. But they don’t quite yet understand what to do. So they fall back on past experience, and of course need to earn some money. Go fishing. Led by Peter.

The expedition is a failure. Catch nothing. In morning, see Jesus on shore. Another series of lessons to be learned:

1. Abundance – after catching nothing using own skills – 153 fish. Like 150 gallons wine at Cana. Feeding of 5,000.

2. Provision – breakfast is ready – already fish and bread on the fire – last supper turns into last breakfast – God’s abundant provision

3. Forgiveness – Peter denied Jesus 3 times – now is asked “Peter, do you love me?” – 3 times. Feed my lambs – take care of my sheep – follow me! So Jesus calls Peter to love him, but to love others too.

4. Sacrifice – but this love will lead to sacrifice – Peter will be called upon to give up his life. Someone will have to dress him and lead him where he does not want to go. This represents Peter’s execution – through which Peter would himself glorify God.

So Peter, like his master who is the Lamb who was slain, glorifies God by his sacrifice. No one has greater love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (15:13). Who are our friends? Jesus says:

¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other. (John 15)

So we come full circle. Command to Peter (and us) – feed my lambs – follow me – be prepared for sacrifice to glorify God. And God is glorified in John the Seer’s vision of heaven:

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
forever and ever!”
The four living creatures said, “Amen”, and the elders fell down and worshipped.

And in these days after Lent, Holy Week and Easter, we echo the praise and glory for our redemption, by adding our own Amen.