January 23 - Who is Worthy? (pt. 2)

January 23 - Who is Worthy? (pt. 2)
Revelation 5:1-14

"And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?' But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it." (Revelation 5:2-3)

We know the end of the story. We know that the One who is worthy is coming. But, John could only weep. There was no on there who was worthy to open the scroll.

Then one of the elders said to John, "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." (Rev. 5:5)

In Luke 7:13, Jesus tells the widow "Don't cry," when her only son was presumed to be dead. In Luke 8:52, He tells the mourners surrounding Jairus "Stop wailing. She is not dead but asleep," as they react to Jairus' daughter's death. In both cases, Jesus knew something that the others didn't know. He could change the outcome. Everything was going to be transformed in moments. John didn't realize when he broke into tears that in just moments, the Lamb who was slain would stand before him and He was worthy.

The One who is worthy is described as the Lion of the tribe of Judah which comes from the blessing that Jacob (Israel) bestowed on his sons in Genesis 49:9-10. The Root of Jesse is a familiar prophecy regarding Jesus taken from Isaiah 11:1.

John looked up, expecting to see a Lion. Instead, he saw a Lamb. Isaiah 53:7 says he was "...led like a lamb to the slaughter." We are beginning to see the message of the Revelation: Jesus' sacrificed Himself and in so doing took control of history and guaranteed our future.

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

Back in Revelation, John sees the Lamb and the signs of death are obvious, "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne." (Rev. 5:6)

Then we see that He had seven horns and seven eyes. Horns are an OT symbol of power. The Lamb has power over everything. The eyes tell us that nothing escapes His notice. The number seven signifies completion - fullness.

Revelation 5:7 is one sentence wrapped up in amazing glory. "He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne."

This is the moment. All creation has been waiting for this single moment. This is the beginning of the end. As soon as Jesus takes the scroll into His hand, every single being in the throne room and on earth reacts.

He took the scroll. He is worthy. He took the scroll.