Who is worthy? (Revelation 5)
In Revelation 4, John has seen the Lord on His throne and has tried the best he could to describe all that he is seeing and hearing and feeling. Try and put yourself in his shoes (or sandals), how do you describe that which is beyond description?! Revelation 5 follows on and the first 7 verses lay out the first time that John sees Jesus in this scene.
“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”
— Revelation 5:1-7
There is a question that should burn in our hearts: Who is worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals? We know from later chapters that as these seals are loosed, God’s judgements are released upon the earth and we know from this chapter that this scroll is of great importance. For John this question caused him to weep because he knew there was no-one who was worthy of it.
It’s at this point, as John weeps, that one of the elders from round the throne of God tells John that this is one who is worthy, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed. Thanks to C S Lewis we find it quite easy to picture Jesus as a lion! This is a profoundly prophetic description of Jesus as the fulfilment of so many Old Testament prophesies about the coming Messiah, as the root of Jesse, in the family line of Judah, whom all authority would be given, who would rule on the earth forever, on the throne of David. This picture as the powerful ruler, coming with authority would have been familiar to the Jewish people and for John this would have been a comforting description of the one who was worthy to take the scroll and outwork God’s action plan on the earth.
Then, when John looks he sees a lamb as though it was slain. I actually think he saw a Jewish man, he saw Jesus, one who he knew was led like a lamb to the slaughter, standing in the midst of the living creatures and the elders, who takes the scroll from the father’s right hand. John saw Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah taking the scroll and to him the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was the characteristic he saw to emphasise the most. It is this description of Jesus that John emphasised throughout the book of Revelation. The sacrifice of Himself that Jesus made is what uniquely qualifies Him to take the scroll, open it’s seals and read what is written on it.
Which do you find it easier to think of Jesus as, the roaring Lion or the slain Lamb? As you reflect on this passage, pick the one you’re least familiar with and ask Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you as the Lion or the Lamb.
The bible often speaks of the "new song" and we’re taking this season to meditate on a few key passages. By singing His word, we can grow together in our understanding of who God is, why worship and prayer are important to Him, and how He will use houses of prayer and praying churches across the earth to see the fullness of His plans come to fruition.