The Powerful Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, 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 who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
The Slain Lamb became the Reigning Lamb
The Slain Lamb became the Reigning Lamb
We see in this passage Jesus referred to as both the Lion and the Lamb.
The Lamb refers to his first coming and death.
The Lion refers to his second coming and judgment of the world.
I. The Problem was an Absence of a Worthy Lamb.
I. The Problem was an Absence of a Worthy Lamb.
1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
A courtroom falls silent.
The judge holds a sealed document—the title deed to everything that was lost, broken, and stolen. It holds justice… restoration… hope. But there’s a problem.
“For this to be opened,” the judge declares, “someone worthy must step forward.”
A hero of history rises—his goodness isn’t enough.
A religious leader steps forward—his devotion isn’t enough.
A philanthropist, a martyr, a saint—one by one, they all fall short.
Finally, the room grows still.
No one else moves.
And you realize… if no one is worthy, then nothing will ever be made right.
Then—footsteps.
Not loud. Not boastful.
A Lamb… as if slain.
He doesn’t argue His worth—He is worthy.
And in that moment, what no man could do, Jesus does.
The scroll isn’t just opened—
hope is unleashed.
There was no one worthy because of the nature of the scroll.
There was no one worthy because of the nature of the scroll.
The Greek word used here for scroll is Biblion. This is where we get the Word Bible.
No one was worthy to open the Word except for the Word.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
No one was worthy because of the requirement.
No one was worthy because of the requirement.
Perfection was the demand and no one met the standard.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
II. The Lamb Who Became a Lion.
II. The Lamb Who Became a Lion.
5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
The Jews still seek a lion, but Jesus was a lamb.
Jesus didn’t fulfill their expectations, and thus was not good enough in their eyes.
The Lamb was rejected, but it is the lamb who became the lion.
Sometimes, it is the very thing that we reject, that God seeks to use in our lives.
As the old song says, “Little is much, when Go dis in it.”
III. A Lamb Worthy to be Praised.
III. A Lamb Worthy to be Praised.
7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, 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 who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
The whole emphasis of this passage is on the Lamb and not the document. However, I would be remiss to not at least mention the contents of the scroll.
The scroll contained seven seals, and each seal was part of God’s plan which includes:
Man’s sin escalates (conquest → war → famine → death)
God’s people suffer
Creation shakes
Then heaven goes silent… because something greater is coming
The reason no one was worthy to open the seals is because no one could carry out the plan of God, except God Himself.
Thus, the Lamb is worthy because He is God and because He lives.
The Lamb is not on the Cross.
The Lamb is not on the Cross.
The Lamb is not in the Tomb.
The Lamb is not in the Tomb.
The Lamb is on His Throne.
The Lamb is on His Throne.
When the powers of Earth have fallen short, when the heroes of the faith were not worthy, when the might men and women of all times strength failed them, the Lamb stepped forward and took hold of the seal.
Revelation 7:17 (NKJV)
17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17 (NKJV)
17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Yes, the Lamb died.
Yes, the Lamb was buried.
Yes, the Lamb rose on the third day.
Yes, the Lamb lives.
Yes, the Lamb still sits upon His throne.
But, most importantly, is the Lamb in your heart?
But, most importantly, is the Lamb in your heart?
