When you are on a sports team, they choose a
mascot that sounds like a winner. When I was in school, the school teams were always the Warriors. The idea was that whether in football or basketball, we would sweep the opposition because we are Warriors.
So when you think of sports teams, we thinking of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Syracuse Orangemen, Yale Bulldogs. But when we think of the greatest test of all – to save the world from war, -- to help us happy lives, -- to make things in life work right – the mascot that God chooses is a lamb.
The lamb seems too weak to help anyone. Why would we want a lamb? Our mascot is not even a sheep. Well, we have a wonderful Bible scripture today that you will hear that describes our rescue by the Lamb.
If you don’t like a bit of mystery, then God’s idea on how to save the world may not appeal. At first, it seems like the world needs more of law and order. That has been the American approach to our national attacks. Attack Afghanistan and make it right. Attack Iraq and make it right. Attack Iran and make it right.
We all are aware that it is easier to plan attacks than to make everything right. A poignant story in the news this week is the governor of Montana asking for national guard troops to be returned to fight wild fires. It sort of like we got the war out of our system, didn’t change anything, and now can we get the troops back to the real business of saving northern farms in the dry season.
And we often pretend that all our lives need is a little law and order. Let me ask a question. Did you make New Year’s resolutions this year. And has anyone here broken the resolutions so far?
William Bennett has written volumes on the Book of Virtues, the Children’s Book of Virtues, etc. He proposes teaching simple morality as the cure to children’s lives. Then they will grow up and become good versions of our lives. Except that William Bennett could not live by his own book. After making millions on virtue, he was found to have lost at least 8 million in gambling.
So the human story should tell us that if we seek a hero, we should be careful about the form it takes. Simple solutions probably will fail. And God does not disappoint. When no one is worthy to open the book of life and renew the world, suddenly one in the form of a lamb steps forward. The royal court immediately recognizes that the improbable is also the life changing.
‘Worthy is the lamb’ goes up the cry. He has the power and authority to open the book and read its life giving liberation.
Easter is about more than you and me and Jesus. God is about the business of building the world that we did not even dare to dream. We have gotten used to hoping for subways that usually run. What God is building doesn’t even need tracks. We have gotten used to prices of medicine going higher. God is going to take you down to the river where healing waters flow. We hope for jobs that put bread on the table. God says that every table should have milk and honey too.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! The whole world is in this royal court, singing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!” The Lamb that was offered as a sacrifice so that every bad deed could be placed on this one innocent offering, now stands in the middle of heaven.
The Lamb claims the power to offer life, because he has tasted death on our behalf. The Lamb has “power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” because the Lamb gave all these up to identify with our fragile bodies, broken dreams, and hurting world.
Easter is the celebration of the day that history turned around. It has been 2000 years now and we are traveling to a new kingdom that we still have not fully seen. Days like this remind us of our victory.
If you are here as a visitor, you may never have heard this story. And you may be caught in life. Its no shame to be lonely. Its no shame to have failed in life. This is the glad day that I can announce that if you accept the life of the Lamb, you are free from guilt. And this church is an experiment where we get together and try to work out our salvation. We are here to help each other. And you can get a fresh start right now if you accept the offering of the Christ and if you join a group of Christians helping each other to victory.
Worthy is the Lamb is the song of heaven and that is the song we repeat. It should be on our hearts at school. We should breathe it at the doctor’s office. And we should sing and dance on days like this. I wonder that the pews and timbers of the building can keep still.
You have enjoyed some moments this morning to help you experience the meaning of
Easter. But it counts for nothing unless you decide to be part of the worshiping chorus. The moments are passing. And we honestly invite you – join the company of heaven
and our host at worship here and call Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Amen.
