Disciples of the Lamb in a Broken World

Many a young girl dreams about how her future bridegroom will come to her to win her heart. The church is the bride of Christ waiting for the arrival of the Bridegroom. In Revelations 19:11-16 we find the “Word of God” portrayed as a conqueror riding on a white horse. The book of Revelations ends with the bride’s yearning, “Come, Lord Jesus” (22:20).

That God is sitting on the throne (Rev 4) and that Christ will come on his white horse as the conqueror to his bride (Rev 19) must be read together with Revelations 5. Revelations 5 says that the same Christ whom the Old Testament calls “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” (verse 5) and that Revelations promises will be coming as victor to his bride, is seen by John in the present time as the Lamb. This Lamb is alive, but the signs of his sacrifice are still evident.

The church is the bride waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom. The church is today, in this world, the followers of the Lamb who has been slaughtered and is alive.

Those who understand this, will realise that our calling in this world is far more than simply dreaming about our future Bridegroom like a young girl (even though there is a place for the “dream”). The followers of the Lamb who opens the seals of the scroll and by doing so unlocks history, have indeed been put here, in these turbulent times, to be His faithful disciples.

What the apostle Peter said in another context may help us to understand what it means to be disciples of the Lamb in a broken world. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

It goes without saying that the bride of Christ must, in this time of HIV and AIDS, really “see” that Christ is the Lamb that was slain, who is alive and who has put us in this world – and specifically in this time of history – to follow Him.