The only worthy one..

“I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

And one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And they sang a new song, saying,“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

saying with a loud voice,“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”

And I heard every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying,“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.” Rev 5:1-5,9,10,12,13 NASB
Yesterday, in our reflection service for Good Friday, I was reminded of these powerful verses from Revelation 5 which give us further insight from this heavenly vision of John into what Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection. He truly settled the judgment of God which was against us in our sins.

John saw God’s throne and a scroll that had 7 seals which God held in His right hand. The scroll was meant to be opened and read as a declaration of God’s sovereign will and purposes. It contained God’s judgment on sin and wickedness. There were 7 seals on this scroll. In ancient times the seal on the scroll was indicative of who had written and sealed the scroll. It verified its authenticity. It could only be opened then by those with sufficient authority and position to break the seals. The Seven seals of God on this scroll would have indicated that this scroll was something unique and of the utmost importance.

John is clearly distraught that the scroll could not be opened because no-one can be found anywhere who is worthy enough to open it. It says that he wept greatly. John does not know what is written on the scroll but understands that it is absolutely necessary to be opened as part of God’s sovereign and divine will for the restoration of mankind.

This scroll is incredibly important.

One of the elders then reassures John that the Lion of Judah, a descendant of King David has overcome the impossible through his death and is now worthy to open the scroll and break its seals. That is Jesus. It is only Jesus who meets that criteria. Scripture tells us that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah and was from the line of David.

Jesus through his death on the cross and His blood has redeemed mankind and has now presented to God through the power of His death and resurrection people from all the people groups on earth and established them as Priests unto God. There is a new Kingdom established in and through Jesus of God’s redeemed people.

The enormity of that is overwhelming and I probably won’t understand it completely until I stand in God’s presence and see His glory and power but even the little I can understand needs to start to sink in…that is you and me as believers and disciples of Jesus. We are now part of God’s Kingdom and Priests unto God.

The verses then go on to declare that Jesus, our Lord has been given power, wealth, wisdom, might, honour, glory and blessing.

It is no coincidence that there are seven attributes that Jesus has received.

Seven is the number of divine perfection.

Jesus has every perfect attribute to reign, rule and judge righteously forever and ever.

This is our King that we bow down and worship.

We can have every confidence and trust in our King Jesus because everything we need is truly found in Him.

Jesus is the only worthy one.

No wonder that scripture warns us not to undermine His glory or try and steal that glory for ourselves.

All honour, glory and blessing belong to Jesus.

Let us remind ourselves again in this season of reflection that there was none other who was worthy in heaven, on earth or under the earth apart from Jesus.

Jesus is the only worthy one.