Behold the Lion has Conquered: Revelation 5:1-14

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,  and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

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.

The beginning of this passage resonates very closely with our sinful condition.  They search and search, but no one in heaven or on earth is found worthy to open the scroll.  Everyone falls short.  In much the same way, we find ourselves and those around us unworthy of God’s favor.  We are unfit to open the scroll, and unfit to receive his blessings.

But, just as the situation seems completely hopeless, we hear, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered…”  The character that emerges is not the triumphant looking lion we might expect, but rather a Lamb who has been slain.  It is this Lamb who is found worthy to open the scroll.

No amount of money or power can earn us God’s favor.  Rather, we look to Christ Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, as our only hope before God.  His perfect obedience has made him worthy to open the scroll and carry out God’s plan of salvation.  Just as the text says, his blood has ransomed us, his people, for God.  We are now called to join in the worship of the Lamb, the only one worthy before God.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for Christ, the Lamb who was slain to set us free from sin.  Give us hearts to praise and worship you with our lives.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.