--AT THE CENTER ~~

-"Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne. . . ."
---(Revelation 5:5-6 NIV)--

---The Bible concludes with the book of Revelation, the apostle John’s recounting of the amazing vision of the Kingdom of God that Jesus had given him. In John’s vision he is weeping because there is a scroll that contains the end-times story, but there is no one in heaven who is worthy to open it. His host says to him, “Don’t weep! The Lion of the tribe of Judah is worthy to open the scroll.”

-John looks to see who has the power and authority to unleash God’s perspectives for His people on the earth; there he sees Jesus, the “Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne.” We are far removed from animal sacrifices, but it would have been a familiar image for a first-century audience. A lamb that had been killed in a ritual manner before it was offered as a sacrifice would not be standing. It would have been lying still, lifeless, and its wool would have been stained with blood. Yet this Lamb, Jesus, though bearing the marks of death, still lives and stands, triumphant in the center of the throne. What was the price that stood between our bondage to sin and our new life of freedom? The blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus of Nazareth. The image is just as powerful for us today as it was for John’s first readers all those centuries ago.

**THINK ABOUT IT
What is the significance of Jesus standing in the center of heaven’s throne? What does that say to us about His deity?

**PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, I am unworthy of the price paid to bring my freedom. Joy fills my heart with gratitude for what Jesus Christ did when He willingly gave his life and shed His blood on the Cross for me. Jesus was innocent of any wrongdoing, and yet He paid it all for me. He was like a lamb at the slaughter, yet He lives and makes intercession on my behalf. Thank You for thinking of me when You created the world. In Jesus’ name, amen."

**Blessings,
***Pastor Allen Jackson
**Intend Ministries-----/ "You're The Lion of Judah" --Paul Wilbur ~~<https://youtu.be/4gIFzdipdoo>
--------