Revelation 5 — Read it and worship as you behold the Lamb of God!
“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” (Revelation 5:1,2).
Imagine! Among the multiplied billions of humans who have ever lived, now live or ever will live, no one will be found worthy anywhere to open this book. No one, that is, but Jesus. The Lamb! The Lamb is worthy. No one will challenge Him. No one will mock Him.
Why is the Lamb worthy? The short answer: because He was slain. Want a little more detail? “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.” The Lamb, unmatched and unrivaled, is worthy!
This is still in the future, a scene yet waiting to unfold itself. And the Lamb was slain over 1900 years ago. Such a terrible way to die, and under such awful circumstances. What a long time to wait! Millions still mock Him. But He patiently waits. Someday His final triumph and vindication will be clear before all. And all will accept it and bow before Him. Because the Lamb is worthy “to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).
I said this is still in the future. And it is as I write at 3:36 pm on August 8, 1996. But you might never get to read these words. The Lamb might open the book before then! Praise the Lord! I’d rather be with you worshipping the Lamb Who is worthy, than have you reading about it. My challenge to you now (in case you do read this) is to worship the Lamb now, because He is already worthy!
(I wrote the above over 20 years ago. Read the full piece here: The Worthy Redeemer.)
The Lamb is worthy!
He was slain for our redemption. He was slain for our cleansing. He was slain for our peace. He was slain for our healing. He was slain. For me. For you. For us.
The Lamb is worthy!
To Him belongs power. The Lamb has power to control, to govern, to conquer. He also has power to heal, to bless, to free, to strengthen. His power is unequaled, unrivaled, unlimited. May His power be over us, in us, and through us.
The Lamb is worthy!
To Him belong riches. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. And the fish in a thousand lakes. And the minerals in a thousand mines. And all the wealth of a thousand galaxies. He also owns the riches of mercy, grace, and longsuffering. He will supply all my need, all your need, and all our need.
The Lamb is worthy!
To Him belongs wisdom. Wisdom that confuses the “wise” and enlightens the simple. Wisdom for planning the universe, for executing the process of redemption, and for arranging the workings of life. Wisdom so complete that it cannot be instructed. Wisdom so simple and direct that even a child can know it. Wisdom so exquisite that it confounds the wise of this world. Wisdom so high and so hidden that the powers of darkness can neither know it nor thwart it. Wisdom for our lives.
The Lamb is worthy!
To Him belongs strength. Strength to calm the storm, to cast out demons, and to make water rise to the tip of a giant sequoia. Strength to make the sun stop, and even go backward. Strength to raise the dead — physically or spiritually or both. Strength to protect, to provide, and to guide. Strength for our encouragement, for our correction, and for anything and everything else we need. And I know He watches over me.
The Lamb is worthy!
To Him also belong honor, glory, and blessing. But I’ll not write three more puny little paragraphs skirting the edges of His worthiness.
“…Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). The Lamb was slain, so the Lamb is worthy.
Adapted and excerpted from The Worthy Lamb of God
Behold The Lamb of God and His Sheep
The redeemed bear the Redeemer’s name. For millennia, a given family name has been very important. Those who bear that name are generally expected to give a good account of themselves lest they bring reproach on the family name. I think of that as I consider part of Isaiah 43:1 — “I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name.” Having been chosen and redeemed by Him, ancient Israel bore His name. How often they brought reproach on themselves and on His name! That would surely qualify as one way of taking His name in vain. We too bear His name. Let’s not do so in vain. Let’s hold it fast so that He is not ashamed to be called our God.
The Redeemer shepherds the redeemed. When the Lord redeems us and allows us to bear His name, He also takes responsibility for us. He becomes our shepherd, promising His presence for the future (“I will be with thee” — Isaiah 43:2) as well as for the present (“I am with thee” — Isaiah 43:5).
The redeemed live the Redeemer’s life. Anyone can claim to be a redeemed child of God. But only the redeemed will live according to the life of the Father in the power of life in the Son. “Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20). When God is our Father, our deeds demonstrate His life. Notice an extremely practical demonstration of this in Matthew 5:44,45.
The Redeemer commissions the redeemed as witnesses. By accepting redemption, we accept the honor and responsibility of telling others about our Redeemer. He sends us to the task just as the Father sent Him!
Adapted and excerpted from Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb
"Behold the Lamb of God" is the CLP Sunday School lesson for January 13, 2019, and uses Revelation 5 as the Scripture passage.
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Mark's first ebook: Panting (Faith Works 1) (available on Amazon via this affiliate link)
