Is Jesus Worthy?
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Is Jesus worthy?
The song the choir just sang asked this question over and over again. Is Jesus worthy? And the resounding answer of the choir, the resounding answer of all creation, of the angels, of the redeemed of all of human history, the resounding answer of the Father Himself … HE IS!
Question:
What is Jesus worthy of?
What is Jesus worthy of?
Dan read for us Revelation 5 just before the choir sang, “Is He Worthy?” This song comes directly out of Revelation 5. So, as we begin to think about this question, “What is Jesus worthy of?” let’s go back to Revelation 5 and set the stage.
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.
John was given a vision by God into the very throne room of heaven. John saw in his vision, God almighty, our Heavenly Father, was seated on His throne in heaven. And this sight was awesome! Chapter 4 gives us a description of what John saw. He saw the Father seated on the throne that shone with the brightness of His glory. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder. The throne was surrounded by mighty angelic beings who continually worshiped almighty God.
This is who John sees. He sees the almighty God seated on the throne and in his right hand, the ancient of days holds a scroll. The fact that it is in God’s right hand is important. The right hand throughout Scripture pictures strength and might. This scroll is the very will of God almighty. Once carried out it will enact God’s plan for the universe. It will carry out God’s might and power upon the earth.
Notice the scroll is has writing on it. This writing is the plan of God, the will of God for His creation. Notice also that the scroll is 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?”
Scroll- seals, authority, explanation.
Who has the right? Who has the authority? Who is worthy to open the scroll?
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.
John looks around, and in his vision he is able to see all of the available candidates who might be worthy to open the scroll. He looks in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth—yet no one was able to open the scroll or to look into it.
So John begins to weep. Why?
Remember what the scroll entails! This is the very will of Almighty God, of the one who sits on the throne. If no one is found worthy to open the scroll, the will and the plan of God cannot be carried out. God’s will is stopped dead in its tracks. And John realizes this- so he begins to weep.
What is God’s plan for creation?
What is God’s plan for creation?
This is important. This is what is written on the scroll. What does God have in plan for creation? What does God have in plan for you and for me?
It has been God’s plan from the beginning for there to be a kingdom on earth. He created humanity in his image and gave us dominion to rule with Him. In fact, if you go all the way back to the book of Genesis we discover that after God created Adam and Eve, God Himself used to come down to earth and walk and talk with them in the Garden. God’s plan has always been to establish a kingdom on this earth. And for people to rule with Him and to dwell with Him, to have a relationship with Him.
So what happened? SIN! In Genesis 3 sin entered into God’s good creation. Sin corrupted everything that God had made. Sin corrupted us. The most devastating result of sin is that is separates us from God. God is holy and righteous and just. Nothing unclean can enter into his presence. And so God could no longer dwell with man. He could no longer rule with man on the earth.
But, God’s good plan has not changed. God’s plan has always been and will always be for there to be a kingdom on the earth. God’s kingdom, where humanity rules and reigns with Him. Where he can dwell with us. Where we can have fellowship with Him. And ever since Genesis 3, ever since sin entered the world and separated us from God, God has been working out his plan. His plan is to undo the devastating effects of sin. God’s plan is to completely remove sin and all of its destructive effects. And his plan is to establish once again His kingdom on the earth.
That is the plan that is written on the scroll in Revelation 5. It is God’s plan to undo the curse of sin and to establish His kingdom on earth once again.
The problem is- who is worthy to carry out God’s good plan. Who is worthy to open the scroll? Who is able? Who is free from the corruption of sin and can stand before a holy God? Who is mighty, who has the power to carry out God’s will? At first glance John can find no one, so he weeps. God’s plan must be carried out! For it to be stopped is unthinkable!
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.”
Weep NO MORE! Behold- there is one who can open the scroll. There is one and only one who can break its seven seals. Who is worthy? The Lion! of the tribe of Judah. Jesus, the God/man. Very God of very God. Who came to this earth and took upon himself a human nature. The one who lineage is from the tribe of Judah, as was prophesied. The one who’s royal line was of King David, as was promised. The Messiah. The Christ! This one and this one alone is worthy! Worthy to do what? Open the scroll and its seven seals.
What is Jesus worthy of?
1. He is worthy to carry out God’s plan
1. He is worthy to carry out God’s plan
Why is Jesus worthy to open the scroll?
Why is Jesus worthy to open the scroll?
Why is Jesus the only one who is able to carry out God’s plan for all of creation? What has Jesus done that only He could do?
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.”
What does that mean? Jesus has conquered? Conquered what?
Conquer- past tense! Jesus has already conquered! It means to win in the face of obstacles, to be a victor, to overcome, to prevail as in a battle or a contest.
The reason Jesus can open the scroll and carry out the plan of God for all of creation is that He alone has already conquered. He has already prevailed in battle.
How has Jesus conquered?
In vv. 6-8 John looks and sees the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, standing near the throne. And Jesus goes to the throne and he takes the scroll from the Father. And once Jesus takes the scroll from the Father, the angelic host begins to sing a new song. Look at the lyrics of this heavenly song.
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,
Jesus is worthy! What is Jesus worthy of? He is worthy to take the scroll and open it! What does that mean? That means Jesus is worthy to carry out the very plan of God for His creation.
OK- think of a deed- like a deed for a house. What is it? It is a legal document. What does a deed accomplish? It transfers ownership of real estate from one person to another. It shows who own the property. Once the deed is signed and recorded with the county, the document becomes legal proof you own your home, right?
Have you ever heard the phrase, “A man’s home is his castle”? Why do we say that? Because if you own the deed to your home then you have the legal right and authority over your own home. A deed is the proof that you alone have such right, such authority.
Do you remember God’s plan for his creation? It has always been to establish His Kingdom on earth. The scroll that the Father gives to the Son is the legal deed for the kingdom. It is the kingdom deed for all of creation. And no one is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals and enact God’s plan for His kingdom other than Jesus.
Why?
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,
What does the word “for” mean? Because!
You, Jesus, are worthy to take God’s kingdom deed for all of creation, you alone are worthy to carry out God’s plan for all creation— Why? Because you were slain.
Jesus is worthy because He was slain! Because Jesus gave his life on a cross. Do you remember what corrupted God’s good plan all the way back in Genesis 3? Sin! Sin separates us from God! Sin made it impossible for God to have fellowship with us. Sin made it impossible for God to establish His kingdom on this earth.
In Revelation 21 we get just a glimpse of God’s plan to establish His kingdom on earth. Revelation 21 talks about the city of God, the New Jerusalem, that God will establish one day. Listen to who can and who cannot enter that city.
27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Nothing unclean! Nothing that is even slightly tainted with sin. Nothing that is detestable or false will EVER enter into it. If you have sin in your life, if you have ever commited a sin, even one time, EVER in all of your life, you will have no place in God’s city. Sin separates us from God.
Rather, Revelation 21:8 tells the destiny of those who are still corrupted by sin.
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
If you still have sin in your life, then your ultimate future is not with God, in His kingdom. It is to be cast out of the presence of God forever and cast into the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
Friends, God’s good plan is for you to dwell with Him forever in His kingdom.
But, if God’s good plan is going to be carried out then sin must be dealt with! And Jesus has dealt with our sin.
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,
Ransomed- to buy v. — to obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction.
In this context is has a mean of “to secure the rights to someone by paying a price, buy, acquire as property.”
Think of a slave market. Think back when slaves used to be held in chains and sold to the highest bidder.
The Bible teaches that we were all of us slaves to sin.
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin ...
We were all of us, slaves of sin. We were part of the slave market. We were bound by chains of sin. We were doomed to die in our sin, separated from God, and headed for an eternity in the lake of fire.
But, Jesus was slain. He went to the cross of Calvary.
And on that cross he took upon himself the chains of our sin. He took upon himself the price of our sin. He died and suffered in our place. He paid the penalty for our sin that we deserve to pay.
And when he shed his blood for our sins he ransomed us. He secured the rights to you and to me by paying a price.
18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
What did Jesus have to pay in order to buy us out of the slave market of sin? He could not pay with mundane things like silver and gold,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
This is why Jesus is worthy to open the scroll and to carry out the will of God. This is why He alone is given the kingdom deed to all creation.
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.”
This is God’s good plan! This is where all of creation is headed. God is working to undo the effects of sin. God is working to establish his Kingdom on the earth. And God’s wants you to reign on the earth with Him! This is a wonderful thing! And the best news is, God wants to give you all of this as a free gift!
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Jesus not only died, he was also buried, and on the third day He rose again from the dead.
This is what we celebrate today on Resurrection Sunday!!
Jesus is alive. God raised Him from the dead. That is very significant!
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.”
The fact that Jesus has conquered is most obvious because of the resurrection!
24 It (righteousness) will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
If we believe in God who raised Jesus from the dead, if we put our faith in God alone to save us, then God will forgive us our sin and count us just a righteous and He is!
Why?
25 who (Jesus) was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Why can God count us righteous if we trust him to save us? Because Jesus Christ was delivered up for our trespasses, that is our sins. Jesus was slain on the cross. He shed his blood as a ransom to pay the price of our sins. And not only that, but after three days buried in the tomb, Jesus was raised again from the dead for our justification. Justification is a legal term and it means that God can declare us “NOT GUILTY.” He can legally declare us as innocent, as having no sin, as being righteous. Why? Because Jesus shed his blood for our sins, and God proved to us that He has accepted Jesus’ death for our sins by raising Jesus from the dead!
Because Jesus was resurrected we have been guaranteed our justification. Because Jesus is alive, we can know that we too will live!
Is Jesus worthy? He IS! What is He worthy of?
1). He is worthy to open the scroll and to carry out God’s plan for all of creation!
2. He is worthy of your trust
2. He is worthy of your trust
2). He is worthy for you to turn from your sin and to cry out to God to save you! Jesus is worthy of your faith!
Have you ever done that? Have you ever realized you were a sinner. Because of your sin you are separated from God. Because of your sin you deserve God’s wrath. But God, is not willing for you to perish in your sins. God sent Jesus to pay your ransom. Jesus shed his blood to pay for you sins. And God has accepted Jesus’ payment by raising Jesus from the dead. And if you trust Jesus today He will forgive you and declare you to be righteous. He will change you eternal destiny. You will not have to be separated from God forever in the lake of fire. You will instead...
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Is Jesus worthy? He is!
He is worthy to carry out God’s plan.
He is worthy of your trust.
And finally,
3. He is worthy of your worship!
3. He is worthy of your worship!
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.
Is He Worthy?
Is He Worthy?
My friend,
Will you be part of God’s kingdom one day?
Have you put your trust in Jesus alone to save you from your sins?
Do you view Jesus as one who is worthy of your worship?
