HE IS WORTHY

"And as He took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they held bowls of gold incense – the prayers of God’s people! And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For You were killed and Your blood ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." Revelation 5:9

At the beginning of chapter 5 of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John continues to share his experience in the throne room of Heaven. He shares the events regarding a scroll that was held in God’s right hand. There was great sorrow in the room because no one was worthy to open the scroll. That is, until Jesus enters the scene as a Lamb. John recounts, "I looked and I saw a Lamb that had been killed but now was standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty four elders…He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne." Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God who died on the cross of Calvary to pay the price for the sins of the world and then ascended into Heaven to sit at God’s mighty right hand, was the only one worthy to open the scroll.

In acknowledgement of His authority and power, the four living beings and twenty four elders immediately fell down before Jesus in reverent respect and worship. They held harps for song and gold bowls of incense filled with the prayers of God’s people, offered to Jesus as they sang to Him.
In their song, the living beings and elders speak two truths about Jesus…truths central to the Christian faith. They included:

(1) He was killed. Jesus would not have made it to this place and time in the throne room of Heaven had He not been crucified first. As a former pastor of a church I attended used to say, "you can’t have the resurrection without the crucifixion." The sacrifice had to come before the reward.

Question: Are you willing to sacrifice everything to gain your reward? Are you willing to lay everything down for Jesus, just as He did for you, so you can join Him in Heaven some day?

(2) Jesus ransomed God’s people with His blood. We were all held hostage by sin, facing eternal captivity and loss of liberty. Nothing could set us free except for the blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross. The hymn, Nothing But The Blood, says, "What can take away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus." The required ransom to free us from destruction from sinfulness was the blood of Jesus. And He gave it because He loved us.

Question: Do you fully realize you have been set free? For if the Son has set you free, then you are truly free indeed. (John 8:36) In what ways do you show Jesus your gratitude for dying for you? Would you be willing to die for another if it meant saving their life? Have you truly stopped to reflect on the love that Jesus has for you?

Won’t you join the living beings and elders in the throne room, bowing down in respect and honor to the One who died for you, paying the ransom for your sins with His blood…the One who offers you the chance to be set free and join Him in Heaven at this life’s end. For He is worthy of not only opening the scroll but also of receiving all our glory, honor, praise and worship. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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