October 23, 2014
JESUS -- THE ONLY ONE WHO IS WORTHY
Revelation 5
Matt Reding
Central Truth
The closer we get to Jesus and seek to understand how great and worthy of praise He is, the more we will desire to know Him, serve Him, and glorify Him. He loves us and bought us with His blood so, without a doubt, He deserves our praise and worship.
Key Verse | Revelation 5:9
"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." (Revelation 5:9b)
Revelation 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“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,
10
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Dive Deeper | Revelation 5
In Revelation 5, the apostle John sees a vision of Jesus standing by God the Father and named the only one "in heaven or on earth or under the earth" worthy to open God's scroll of judgment and set in motion God's plan for the end times (verse 3). That is a huge statement. Across all time and space, only Jesus is found worthy. At church last week, one of the praise songs we sang was "Jesus, Son of God" by Chris Tomlin. One of my favorite verses goes, "On the altar of our praise let there be no higher name, Jesus, son of God. You laid down your perfect life; You are the sacrifice, Jesus, Son of God."
That is a perfect illustration of the scene in Revelation 5: Jesus is the only one found worthy to carry out God's plan. Here's my problem, and maybe yours, too. When I walk in my flesh rather than with Christ, I tend to place myself on God's throne and be the "higher name" in my own life. When I lose perspective on who Christ is -- who He truly is -- and the fact that He alone is worthy of praise, honor, and glory, I begin to worship myself. I make myself sovereign over my life so that I can live in ways that feel good and benefit me alone. I forget that my sole purpose in life is to glorify God by loving Him with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love my neighbor as myself (Luke 10:27).
This passage called me to remember:
1. The One whom I am serving;
2. Jesus alone is worthy of all service, praise, and honor;
3. How powerful God is -- only He can create a massive universe with all its wonder and yet measure it in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 40:12); and
4. The God of the universe loves me enough to not only die for me, but also to continue to pursue me even when I put myself on the throne of my life rather than His Son.
Serve and worship Christ today because He alone is worthy.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus, the only One who can save you from sin and give you the strength to worship Him and not yourself?
2. In what ways can you help yourself remember: a) that only God is worthy of praise; b) that He is greater than anything you can imagine; and c) that He loves you enough to pursue you no matter how many times you have failed?
3. Do you ever struggle with putting your own agenda for your life ahead of God's? If so, what steps can you take today to change that?
4. How are you seeking God's help and the help of other believers in Christ to know God more and love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?
5. Whom can you share Jesus with this week?