Worthy: Daily Thoughts from Revelation (Revelation 5:6-14)

Worthy. Look that up on the internet and one of the first sites you see is a site that wants to help you sell your high end ring. They say, “The authenticity of items is of…importance to us. Every item goes through a thorough physical evaluation.” Your ring must be worthy to be sold on their site. This is not eBay.

When Jesus is found to be worthy to open the scroll of judgment, heaven erupts with the sound of its vast multitudes shouting, “Worthy!” Jesus’ authenticity has been thoroughly evaluated.

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”   

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”    

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”   

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:6-14 ESV)

Until this point all song has been directed to the Father on His throne, but now all bow to the Lamb.  Jesus had just been described as the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the root of David, kingly terms, but now he is shown as a lamb who has been slain. This is the Jesus who takes the scroll from the Father and who prompts worship.  He was judged by the world and now he will judge the world. Jesus is worthy, they sing, to take and open the scroll, because he was the sacrifice that redeemed people from every nation and made them a kingdom of priests to reign on earth.

Earth must first be judged, then the kingdom is established and then the redeemed rule with Jesus. Judgment inaugurates it all.

The remainder of those around the throne also burst into song, declaring the Lamb worthy to receive what only God should receive, power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing.  Then both the Father and the Son are addressed equally with blessing, honor, glory and might forever.

Jesus is clearly God, yet a separate person from the Father.  Though the Holy Spirit is not mentioned in this song, He too is equally God.  There is one God and three persons who make up that one God.  And they are to be praised as they bring justice to the world.