Shepherded by the Lamb

In the streets of Jerusalem
I'll never be the same
A man that they called Jesus
Healed my boy, who was lame
His eyes, they were so gentle
But His words, they seared my soul
He said he was the Shepherd
The Shepherd of the fold. 

How could these things be?
Why would the Shepherd die?
How could he be the Christ? 

In the Temple I had sung of some
In knowledge hope I stand
We're the people of his pasture
The sheep of his hand.
But if Jesus really is the Christ
And we are his sheep
Why did he abandon us
And leave us without keep? 

How could these things be?
Why would the Shepherd die?
How could he be the Christ? 

But if Jesus was God in the flesh
If God became a man
Then maybe this dear Shepherd's death
Was of a higher plan
And as God took on a human form
So Shepherd became Sheep
Could this be the Paschal Lamb
With this thought I weep 

Blessed mystery!
Help me understand:
The Shepherd is the Lamb.

So as God gave up his heavenly throne
To come and live as man
So Shepherd left his rightful place
To become a Lamb
And as Jesus healed my precious son
Even so he was He'll be
His blood was shed to wash my sin
and by his stripes I'm free 

Blessed mystery!
Jahweh's perfect plan:
The shepherd is the lamb.
Blessed mystery!
Now I understand:
The shepherd is the lamb.

A while ago on Facebook I saw that someone had posted a summary of the life of Joseph in the context of good coming out of bad situations, like when he was sold into slavery because his brothers were jealous. Not only did Joseph suffer for his own sins (bragging to his brothers about his dreams, and wearing the multi-colored coat that signified he was Jacob's favorite son), but some of his sufferings were brought about by his faithfulness (being framed by Potiphar's wife and subsequently imprisoned for not accepting her sexual advances).  Both of those life changes might be considered bad in human terms, but it was all a part of God's plan to save Joseph's family from drought, and to bring the family of Israel into Egypt.  In recapping this story, I was reminded that God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.

Like putting Joseph in prison so he could be in the right place when Pharaoh had a bad dream.  Or like in the song I found and transcribed above, outlining how the Shepherd became the Lamb. (By the way, I could not find the words to this song--I only found it one place on YouTube at this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb-PQD9N9R4
I know I have gotten some of the lyrics wrong; if you can make it out any better, please let me know so I can make the corrections).  Anyway, the reason I was looking at this mystery is because I read Revelation 7:13-17:

Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?’ I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

You may remember last week when we studied the middle of chapter 7, when the multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language sang a song of Salvation and Praise to God.  An angel choir answered in verses 11-12.   But wait.  Think about that.  The angels were created to praise Him--that's what they do.  The saints who shouted "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb"--these were folks who had just gone through a Great Tribulation.  They were faithful, but it did not result in their comfort or security: some had been martyred, some had survived, but all had been persecuted for the sake of Christ.  And still they had a song in their hearts, as they were now in the presence of God, and of the Lamb who had shepherded them through their troubles.  This is foolishness to some, and a stumbling block to others.  And as a reward, they were given white robes.

These robes were made white by their being washed in the blood of the Lamb--another mystery, for sure.  On earth, robes dipped in the blood of sacrifices was stained red as crimson, to remind people of their sin.  In heaven, robes dipped in the blood of the Lamb turn brilliant white, to remind them of their faithfulness to Him.  Revelation 22:14 says, "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."   Hebrews 9:14 says, "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God."  And we see in 1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin."

So we are made pure by the blood of the Lamb.  And we are rewarded for our faithfulness.  But how? My wife's grandmother, near the end of her life, made an observation: she said she was NOT looking forward to going to heaven, because she had always been told that we would lounge around on clouds and strum harps forever.  This did not sound like fun to her.  She had spent her life in service to her family--raising a garden, harvesting vegetables, cooking meals, and cleaning up after.  Well, the Bible says that the saints in heaven are busy serving.  I'll bet she's right at home.  God rewards us, not with a halo and wings and a harp, but an opportunity for service.  The rewards of heaven have at least five benefits: service, shelter, sustenance, safety, and security.

Service
Vince Lombardi once said, "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out for a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious."  Work is fulfilling.  Revelation 7:15 says, "Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in His temple."  We will have a job in heaven, but it will be fulfilling and joyful work.  It will not be drudgery, for we will not be working for money that is here today and gone tomorrow--we will be working for God, who gives us every good and perfect gift.  Revelation 22:3 says, "No longer will there be any curse.  The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him."

Shelter
Revelation 7:15(b) says, "and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them."  Imagine being Samuel, whose mother Hannah gave him to God.  From the time he was weaned, Samuel lived in the Temple of God, and was busy doing the work that was necessary there.  Whenever the word "tent" is used in Revelation, it refers to a Tabernacle, of which the Tabernacle made by Moses was only a copy.  Isaiah 4:5,6 says, "Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.  It will be a shelter and shade from the head of day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain."  God promises that "the sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat."  Psalm 27:5 says, "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock."  Isaiah 25:4 says, "You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat."  But this will not be in some remote out-building; there are no servants quarters in heaven.  Revelation 21:3 says, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God."

Sustenance
Revelation 7:16, 17 says, "Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst...For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water."  John 16:35 says, "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.' "  John 4:14 says, "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  For those of us who are forever dieting, the Lord will be our sustenance, and we will never hunger or thirst.  For those of us who enjoy eating (or those less fortunate who have seldom had a decent meal), there will be a time of fellowship and breaking bread together at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  There will still be the enjoyment of consuming good food; there just won't be any need or want, no shortages or famine.

Safety
Ezekiel 11:16 says, "This is what the Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone."  This goes back to the mystery of why bad things happen to good people. God has a plan for us, and whether we realize it or not, He provides a sanctuary for us in whatever situation we are in.  Of course, when we get to heaven there will not be any enemy to attack us, because Satan and all that he stands for will be thrown into a lake of fire.  God willing, we will get to that verse later in our study of Revelation.

Security
This would include both physical security and emotional security.

• physical-- Revelation 7:17(a) says "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd." John 10:11 says "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  Psalm 23 begins, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
• emotional-- Revelation 7:17 (b) says, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."  Isaiah 40:11 says, "He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."

There are so many other benefits of knowing Christ.  There is no way to list them all.  Ephesians 2:6,7 says, "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

Even now, Lord Jesus, come quickly.  Amen.

So what becomes of those small unwanted soulsWho spend their lives breaking their backs?Those who dig the gold for the rich and powerfulWho place their feet upon their necks?
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb
Where can the junkies go when high has laid them low?Are they truly on their own?It seems we've lost our way like sheep we have gone astrayCan anybody lead us home?
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb
Who is the champion? The friend of the suffering?Of those who were never born? The King with the crown of thornsAnd I'll consecrate a verse to the kingdom in reverseWhere the least are most and the last will be the first
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb