The Worthy One

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

The term worth is used a lot when it comes to taxes. The IRS figures worth. I used to think it was all about how much money you had, but if you own a house, a car, and don’t have much debt it’s all figured into your worth. You can also look at a person’s character to use the term. The world system of character is upside down. The drive and desire now is to be noticed. The same old workings of Satan are still around as well as the sinfulness of the flesh. The only thing a lost person has is himself and it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing yourself worth more than you are. There is little humility and the first thing that realizing you’re lost does is made you humble. Seeing your sinfulness brings humility.

Here in Revelation the scripture says that a search was made for one worthy. The conclusion was that no one was worthy but the Lamb of God. In context, it is about opening the books in heaven after the rapture. The world is open to the full judgement of God. Jesus was found worthy to open the seals. If we would judge our own selves, we’d do better at seeing the worth of Jesus. When he opens the seals, seven years of tribulation and judgement will begin on the world.

The same Lamb worthy to open those books is the same Lamb who could have asked the Father to rain down judgement at the cross. Instead he said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He took our unworthiness to give us his worthiness. Instead of choosing to destroy us he chose to save us. It happened by the shedding of his blood. The new wine was a symbol of that blood to be shed, his blood for the remission of sins. He is the only righteous and worthy one able to judge. But before acting as judge he chose to give himself as Savior. One day every knee will bow and admit God is right and truly Lord. They will admit they were wrong. Even Satan will admit it; he knows it’s true yet he wants to take as many to hell with him as he can. I’d rather be in the minority now than to be in the majority on that day.

Verses 9-10 state And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Because of who and what we are we will never be worthy. Our greatest accomplishment is nothing. We all fall short in the eyes of God. Jesus did for us what no one else could because he wanted to. It’s not his will that any perish and go to hell.

It’s a privilege to partake of the Lord’s supper and the symbols of his worthiness. There is no higher place than in the presence of the Lord. We can count on his righteousness for worthy is the Lamb. This scripture will come to pass one day. The multitudes will say with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

When Jesus rose from supper he looked at his disciples with love. All he wants is for us to give him credit as the worthy Lamb of God. Because of his worthiness we can be bound with him in this new covenant that was made by the giving of his life.