Scripture Daily

Context No. 3614 of 4322 · Revelation

Context · Reflection

Revelation 14:1-5: in context

1I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. 2I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. 3They sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. 4These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

After the dark visions of the beast, John sees a scene of triumph: the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him the redeemed, bearing his name and his Father's name on their foreheads. They sing a new song that only they can learn, the song of the redeemed, sung before the throne.

And they are described in a memorable phrase: these are they who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. That is the mark of the redeemed, not a perfection of their own making, but a faithful following of the Lamb, going wherever he leads. In their mouths no lie was found; they are blameless, not because they never once failed, but because they have been washed and now follow their Lord truly. There is a beautiful picture of the Christian life here: to belong to Christ is to follow the Lamb wherever he goes, and to bear his name as our very identity. Wherever the Lamb leads, his own follow, singing a song the world cannot learn.

Am I one who follows the Lamb wherever he goes, bearing his name as my true identity, singing the song of the redeemed?

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