Creation Redeemed - Revelation 5:1-14

Revelation 5:1-14

Worthy.  Who is worthy? That is the big theme in this chapter of Revelation and the song that comes from it.
 
In Revelation 5, an angel has a scroll that has words written on the front and back.  This means that the message being given is important and it is vital that it is read.  There are seven seals on the scroll and the implication from all this is this: the scroll contains a revelation from God into a matter of salvation.  As long as the scroll remains sealed and unopened and unread, there is no salvation.

But who can open this?  Who is authorized? Who is worthy to do such a thing?  You could even say, “who is holy enough?”  Maybe you can hear an echo of what Jesus does in John 8, “he who has not sinned can cast the first stone.”  And they all walk away from the woman in adultery.
 
The angel asks a similar question: Who is worthy can break the seals and open the scroll. 
But no one is found worthy.  Not in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth.  Nothing in Creation can come forward and take the scroll and open it.

This causes John to weep.  He weeps because it looks like the revelation from God and the salvation he brings will not happen.
 
But then, John is told to stop weeping.  Being caught up, John has not been able to see that the Lion, of the tribe of Judah has conquered.  This reminds us of Jacob’s blessing to Judah in Genesis 49 that Judah is a lion and from Judah’s lions shall come a ruler whose scepter will never be taken.

Of course, Jesus is from the tribe of Judah and this was spoken concerning Christ.
 
The elder also calls him the root of David, taking us back to 2 Samuel 7 when God said he would bring from David’s descendants a ruler for all time and people.  It was the Prophets who declared also that from the fallen and rotting stump of Jesse’s tree would come a Savior, a new David.  Here Jesus is fulfilling that.

And so John turns and looks to see this Lion from the Tribe of Judah and David’s root.  And before the throne stands a Lamb.  Curious because John heard a Lion.  But John’s ears are to help his eyes discern what he sees.
 
This Lamb who stands as though it has been slain like a sacrifice is found worthy.  The Lamb is described as having seven horns and eyes which translates into the Holy Spirit, a reminder that Jesus is given the Holy Spirit at his Baptism and which Jesus pours out now on us.

This Lamb takes the scroll and breaks the seals and opens it, now being able to usher forth the redemption of the Creation and the renewal of all things.

Because of this, the whole creation gathers together and sings a hymn that is part of our song, “This is the Feast”:

“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 around the throne, John sees a myriad of angels.  And they sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
 
Then everyone else joins in and they all say, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And they all fall down and worship the Lamb who has conquered by his death, Jesus Christ.

Worthy indeed is Christ to win for you, your salvation.  This salvation causes us and all creation to break out into praise.  “Amen!” Or, “this is true and faithful!”