Worthy is the Lamb

March 22, 2023

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”  Revelation 5:12

I love the reflective nature of this season of Lent. Taking time to stop and meditate on scriptures makes me aware to two things: my great need for a savior and what Jesus endured so that could happen. Recently I encountered God’s overwhelming grace in Revelation 5.  As I studied it, I was once again moved to my knees in worship with tears of repentance, gratitude, and joy streaming down my face.

In Revelation 5:2 the mighty angel asked, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” It is devastating to realize no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.  At this point all is so hopeless and desolate. But in verse 5 the elder encourages John (and us) to, “See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” I can just imagine John looking for a strong, powerful lion like Aslan, but instead what he records is this, “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain…”  I wonder if John was puzzled.  Not only was this a helpless, innocent lamb, but it also was a lamb looking as if it had been sacrificed.  How could a mortally injured lamb be found worthy?  Where was the Lion of Judah?

But then the twenty-four elders begin singing the new song in verses 9-10. They were then joined by hundreds of thousands of angels in verse 12 and together they sang more songs of praise and worship. They were joined by “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’”  What glory, beauty, love, hope, splendor, and majesty are captured in that moment!!

John was assured that Someone was found who was worthy to break the seals and open the scroll – the Lamb of God: Our Lord, Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten son, the first born from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth….the one who was slain for our sins and punished for our iniquities, who redeemed our lives from the pit.  HE is worthy!!!  Glory! Glory to God most High!!!

Prayer: Oh, praise you, Lamb of God.  You are worthy of our thanksgiving!  You are worthy of our worship!  You are worthy of our love!  You are worthy of our praise!  You are worthy of our commitment!  You are worthy of our trust!  Amen.