Let the Lamb Roar!
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Guest writer: Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
C. S. Lewis believed that one out of four books we read should be an old one, particularly a classic. So, in the spirit of Lewis, I want to use my blog, from time to time, to give voice to some of the saints and heroes who have gone before us. Today, I’d like to share a sermon preached by Jonathan Edwards almost 300 years ago. Although Edwards is one of the greatest theologians and philosophers that America ever produced, he is perhaps best known for his powerful preaching during the First Great Awakening. “The Excellency of Christ” was published in 1738 and became one of Edward’s most famous sermons. Because the original text is lengthy (over 15,000 words!) and intimidating, I have drastically abridged it and made some editorial changes. You can find the complete sermon in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
The Excellency of Christ
A Sermon by Jonathan Edwards
5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah… has prevailed to open the scroll….” 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne… stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…. (Revelation 5:5-6 NKJV).
Many things may be observed in the words of the text, but my purpose is only to take notice of the two distinct appellations here given to Christ. He is called a Lion. And he is called a Lamb. A lion is a devourer, and no creature more easily falls prey to him than a lamb. Christ is here represented not only as a Lamb, but a “Lamb as though it had been slain," that is, with the marks of its deadly wounds appearing on it.
That which I would observe from the words, for the subject of my present discourse, is this: there is an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies in Jesus Christ. The lion excels in strength and in the majesty of his appearance and voice. The lamb excels in meekness and patience, besides being good for food, yielding that which is fit for clothing, and being suitable to be offered in sacrifice to God. Christ is in the text compared to both, because the diverse excellencies of both wonderfully meet in him. I shall mention some of these seemingly opposite excellencies that meet perfectly in Jesus Christ.
Infinite highness and infinite condescension. Because Christ is God, he is infinitely great and high above all. He is King of kings, and Lord of lords. And yet none are so low or inferior that Christ does not take a gracious notice of them.
Infinite justice and infinite grace. As Christ is a divine person, he is infinitely holy and just, hating sin, and disposed to execute punishment. And yet he has infinite grace sufficient for every sinner, even the chief of sinners.
Infinite glory and lowest humility. The same respect and divine worship are paid to Jesus by the angels in heaven as to God the Father. And yet he cheerfully sustained the form of a servant through his whole earthly life, submitting to both humiliation and death!
Infinite majesty and transcendent meekness. Heaven is Christ’s throne and the earth is his footstool, and yet he is meek and lowly in heart, he comes riding on a donkey. He is a lion in majesty and a lamb in meekness.
Infinite in goodness and showing the greatest patience under sufferings of evil. Although Jesus was perfectly innocent, he endured the greatest sufferings that were ever endured in this world, and he did so with perfect patience.
Absolute sovereignty and perfect resignation. Because Christ is God, he is the sovereign disposer of all events and yet he gave the most wonderful instance of submission that the world has ever seen.
Self-sufficiency and an entire trust and reliance on God. As Jesus is a divine person, he is self-sufficient, standing in need of nothing. And yet he lived a life of trusting in his Father in heaven to meet his every need.
We see this conjunction of excellencies remarkably displayed in Christ’s offering of himself as a sacrifice for sin in his final passion and death. He never appeared more as a lamb than when he was slain. And yet in that very act, he also appeared as a lion. We see this in the following:
On the cross, Christ is in his greatest degree of humiliation. And yet, by his death, above all other things, his divine glory appears.
In no other act did he give a greater manifestation of love to God, and at the same time, his love for those who were God’s enemies.
Christ never so eminently showed his commitment to divine justice, and yet never suffered so much from divine justice, as when he offered up himself a sacrifice for sin.
Christ's holiness never so illustriously shone forth as it did in his last sufferings, and yet no where else was he treated as being so guilty of sin.
In his death on the cross, Christ was delivered up to the power of his enemies. And yet by his suffering, he won the victory over those very same enemies.
We can see this admirable conjunction of excellencies also displayed in Christ as he now reigns on high, exalted in heaven. Although he is Lord over all, he maintains his human nature. He excels in humility even as he excels in glory. He is still a Lamb, even in the midst of the throne. Though he reigns in glory, he still has the marks of his wounds upon him.
Finally, we see this admirable conjunction of excellencies displayed in Christ at the last judgement. He will appear as the Lion of Judah in infinite greatness and majesty. The earth will tremble and the hills will melt. The wicked will cry out for the mountains to fall on them, to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb.
Conclusion
Let the consideration of this wonderful conjunction of diverse excellencies in Christ induce you to accept him, and close with him as your Savior. Why would you not venture your soul upon Christ? What are you afraid of? That he is not strong enough to conquer the enemies of your soul? That he is unwilling to stoop so low as to take any notice of you? Where can you find a Savior comparable to Christ? What excellency is he missing? If you come to him as a Lamb, he will forgive your sins. And when you come, he will also appear as a Lion, in his glorious power and dominion, to defend you. All those excellencies of his, in which he appears as a lion and as a lamb, shall be yours and shall be employed for you in your defense, and to promote your glory.
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