Worthy Is The Lamb

What Makes Someone Worthy? What is it about a person that makes you admire them, speak well of them, brag about them? What makes someone worthy of praise? You see, we live in a culture that loves to praise certain types of people. We live in a culture that places a great deal of emphasis on rewarding great talent. Every year Oscars are given to the best actor and actress. Every December, the most talented College Football player is awarded the Heisman. Last February, the best singers were awarded Grammys. Being talented is recognized and praised abundantly in our society.

Not, only that, but great achievement is also venerated in our culture. The relator with the most sales is rewarded with a trip to Hawaii. The Entrepreneur who makes the biggest profits makes the Forbes Richest People List. Another group is honored yearly for their contributions in the fields of science, literature, physics or economics. They’re given the Nobel peace prize. But most of the time we don’t really hear who they are or what they did to make them worthy of such praise. Breaking sales records, making lots of money, or contributing to society is widely esteemed by many in our world today.

But in the last ten years, there’s been a rise in a third category of praise. It’s a category that’s evolved from the rise of social media – in the form of who has the most followers? On top of that list is Christiano Renaldo, Lionel Messi (soccer players), followed by Selena Gomez (singer) and Dwayne the Rock Johnson (actor). What these all have in common is that they’re idolized by millions of followers. They are all famous. They’re all insanely popular with the masses. At last count, Renaldo has over 687 million followers.

Clearly, there is something in us that longs to worship greatness, even if it’s something as shallow as worshiping someone famous. Which begs the question: Who is truly worthy of worship? Who is truly worthy of your praise, your honor or your allegiance?

Well, I believe one answer to that question can be found as we return to the Throne of God in Heaven. So, if you brought your Bible with you, let me encourage you to find Revelation 5, where we are about to discover why there is only One person who is truly worthy of our praise.

In fact, we come to Revelation 5, John is still in the presence of God’s Throne, where the Sovereign God is being worshiped by the Saints, the Angels and all Creation. But something is about to take place before God’s throne that will erupt in a scene of unprecedented worship. And it all begins with a scroll that is being held in God’s right hand. And a question is asked: Who is worthy to open the scroll?

John describes the scene for us: Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty 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. Revelation 5:1-4

The Sovereign God of all creation is holding a scroll in His right hand. The right hand of God is the hand of His authority. And here on His throne God is holding in His right hand – a scroll with writing in the inside and on the back. What’s written on this scroll, you ask? Great question!

On this scroll is written God’s authoritative, redemptive plan for all mankind. These are “the things that must take place” that Jesus spoke of when He first called John to the throne of heaven. The scroll is sealed with seven seals – signifying that what is written on this scroll is God’s complete and perfect will for all mankind.

With the appearance of this scroll, God’s messenger, a mighty angel proclaims in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” This is a question of immense importance. The angel’s question is not merely “Who is worthy to reveal God’s plan?” but also, “Who is worthy to carry out God’s plan?” “Who deserves to receive from the Father’s right hand all authority in heaven and earth, to make the kingdoms of this world into the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ?”

The weight of this question silences the worshipers around the throne. There are no takers. No one comes forth to take the scroll. Not Abraham, not Moses, not David, nor Isaiah. Not the Apostle Paul, or Peter or John. There’s no one worthy enough to step forward and take the scroll from God’s hand.

This is indeed a problem. A cosmic problem. For if there is no one worthy to take the scroll and open it, the revealed will of God for all history cannot take place. At this moment the destiny of John, of the church, and of the universe hangs in the balance over this one question. So, John begins to weep. He weeps because there seems to be no one worthy enough to come forward and fulfill God’s plan.

But there may be another reason he weeps. Richard Phillips describes this for us: “Undoubtedly, part of the reason for John’s weeping arose from his awareness of his own unworthiness and that of the entire human race. Man was created by God to exercise His authority, which is why God blessed Adam with dominion over the earth. But Adam fell from that authority by violating God’s commandment. So, when Adam sinned, he plummeted himself and all his descendants into the state of guilt and corruption. Therefore now, as a man, John looks upon the scroll and hears that none is worthy to open it, and he tastes the bitterness of man’s sinful condition.”

The situation seems hopeless. But then, something extraordinary happens. One of the elders speaks. He chastises John and tells him: “Stop your crying! And Look.” And then he announces the good news:

There is One Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll “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.” The Lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed. The root of David has conquered! He has defeated sin and death. Behold the Lamb who stands before you now in all His victorious glory. So, John looked, and what did he see? 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. Revelation 5:6 Here now John sees three images of the victorious Lamb of God:

The Lamb is victorious because He is Standing. Standing between the throne and the redeemed is the Lamb. He is standing as though He had been slaughtered. However, He is standing in the mediator’s position between God and man. – standing before God as the One who bore the guilt of sin in His flesh. Standing before God as the One who freed God’s people from the penalty they deserved. He had been slain, but now He is standing. This is a powerful image! For in His standing before the throne we see one thing loud and clear: The Lamb is standing because He defeated sin and death by His resurrection from the grave.

In fact, there is something even more telling in this term “standing.” This word is in the perfect tense, which speaks to the permanence to His resurrection. There was a day when His dead body got up and left the tomb, and He will never die again. Jesus stands today and He will stand forever. The Lamb is victorious because he is standing.

The Lamb is victorious because He is Strong. He is also adorned with seven horns, which is a sign of divine power. Remember, seven is the number of perfection or completion. Horns represent power and strength. Here now standing before the throne is not just the resurrected Lamb, but the as the all-powerful Lion of Judah. The Lamb is victorious because His horns declare His divine power.

The Lamb is victorious because He is Searching. He also has “seven eyes.” Eyes represent wisdom and knowledge. And in tandem with the horns, they inform us that the Lamb has perfect knowledge. He is all knowing. However, here the eyes also emphasize His omnipresence… The Lamb is not just all-powerful and all knowing. He is the ever-present God who searches the hearts and minds of men throughout the world.

So, in light of His sacrificial death; His conquering resurrection; His divine power and ever-present deity, the Lamb is about to do what no one else in all of creation can do. He approaches the throne:

He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Revelation 5:7 No one else in all the universe is worthy enough to take from the Father’s right hand the scroll and carry out God’s divine plan for the end of history. No one but Jesus Christ, the resurrected and living Savior is worthy.

This is the moment that Daniel so eloquently predicted when he wrote these words: And behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a Son of man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14

Do you recognize the significance of this moment? At this moment, the moment the risen Lamb takes the scroll from the Father’s right hand, Jesus is exalted by the Father and is given the authority to carry out God’s plan for the end of history! All because He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
And now, as the Lamb takes the scroll, all of heaven bears witness of this transaction. All the saints, all the angels and all of creation are in awe of what is taking place as they see the Lamb being exalted before their eyes. So, what happens next? ALL HEAVEN BREAKS OUT IN WORSHIP OF THE LAMB!

Worthy is the Lamb! 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. Revelation 5:8

By falling down before the Lamb, the redeemed worship the Lamb. They praise Him with music and offer up golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. These prayers are cries for judgment of the wicked and deliverance for the righteous. Now, their prayers can be answered by the Lamb. And they break into praise, 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.” Revelation 5:9-10 They sing:

1) Worthy is the Lamb “For you were slain” Jesus willingly laid down His life for us. He took our place of judgment. He died as our substitute, just as Isaiah predicted: He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

2) Worthy is the Lamb for “by your blood you ransomed people for God” If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, then this is true for you. You’ve been redeemed by the blood of Christ. He has purchased you from the marketplace of sin. He has set you free. “Not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19
3) Worthy is the Lamb for “you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” No one is barred from the cross. Jesus’ blood has shattered every racial, religious, and cultural barrier that separates you from God. The shed blood of Jesus now makes it possible for anyone to brought into a relationship with the Father. Worthy is the Lamb.

4) Worthy is the Lamb for “You made them a kingdom and priests to our God.” If you’ve trusted in Jesus, God’s Word declares that you are now a coheir with Christ. That means you are royalty. Just as Jesus is king, His resurrection makes it possible for you to rule with Him. We reign with Him now in the kingdom of God and one day we will reign with Him on the earth. Not only that, but He has also made us priests. Even today, because of what Jesus did for us, we are being built to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5.
“Worthy is the Lamb” is not just the new song of worship sung around the throne. It is the song of the redeemed. This new song is our song! This new song is your song! Worthy is the Lamb to take the scrolls and open the seals! For you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed us for God! The Lamb has done it. He is worthy! He deserves all our praise, all our honor, all our allegiance. There is no one like Jesus! This is why everything we say, do or think should bring honor to His name. Worthy is the Lamb. This is our song! Jesus is worthy of all our worship. But we’re not alone in giving Him praise. Look at who else joins the redeemed in worship…

The Angels Give Praise to the Lamb: Now that they have comprehended the glory of Christ’s saving work through the worship of the church, the angelic hosts offer their own praise: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:11-12 What once seemed like defeat for Jesus is now praised for His ultimate victory. Imagine this, literally myriads of angels breaking into worship. It could be as many as a million angels bursting forth in thunderous praise. Gives me goosebumps. And their praise is mind blowing:

The Lamb, who was once seen as weak is now praised for His power. The Lamb, who was once seen as poor is now lauded for the riches of His redemption.
The Lamb, who was once ridiculed as foolish, is now worshiped for His wisdom.
The Lamb, who was once shamed by his humiliation is now praised for His exaltation.
The Lamb, who was once disgraced, is now praised as the personification of grace.
The Lamb, who was once considered cursed, is now worshiped for the eternal blessings found in Him. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Millions of Angels thunder in glorious worship of the Lamb. For He alone is worthy of worship! And in response to this spectacular chorus of praise…

All Creation Gives Praise to the Lamb: 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!” Revelation 5:13. Here we see the farthest extent of Christ’s redemptive realm. All the redeemed sing worthy is the Lamb. The myriads of angels cannot contain their praise. And now all creation erupts with spontaneous worship of the Lamb. For they too realize that it is the Lamb who liberates all creation from the curse of sin and the bondage of decay. Here before the throne, all the trees of the fields clap their hands, all the seas rise up and roar, and the mountains sing together for joy: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And at the conclusion of this heavenly chorus of praise we read: And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:14

There can only be one response to this revelation of the Lamb that was slain. He deserves all our praise. He deserves all our honor. He deserves all our allegiance. For He alone is worthy to open the scroll and carry out God’s sovereign plan! Worthy is the Lamb!