I Am Unworthy

I Am Unworthy

Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic who was paralyzed in a diving accident as a teenager, talks about her wedding day. She says, “I felt awkward as my girlfriends strained to shift my paralyzed body into a cumbersome wedding gown. No amount of corseting and binding my body gave me a perfect shape. The dress just didn’t fit well. Then, as I was wheeling into the church, I glanced down and noticed that I’d accidentally run over the hem of my dress, leaving a greasy tire mark. My paralyzed hands couldn’t hold the bouquet of daisies that lay off-center on my lap. And my chair, though decorated for the wedding, was still a big, clunky gray machine with belts, gears, and ball bearings. I certainly didn’t feel like the picture-perfect bride in a bridal magazine. I inched my chair closer to the last pew to catch a glimpse of Ken in front. There he was, standing tall and stately in his formal attire.

I. The scroll in God’s hand is perhaps the title deed to the earth.

II. The scroll had to be opened one at the time, it was sealed in such a way that the first seal should be opened before opening the second.

III. Roman law required that a will or contract should be sealed with 7 seals, the full contract was written inside

and then rolled up and sealed with 7 seals, on the outside the content of the contract was briefly described.

IV. The Law of Redemption: Lev.25:23-25; Jer.32:6-27

A. In Israel the Israelites got a sealed scroll if they had sold or lost the family land - The law of forfeit.

B. If the one that lost the land couldn’t buy it, then a kinsman could buy back the land with a certain price by delivering the sealed scroll.

C. The redeemer would go to the elders at the city gate, break the sealed scroll with requirements and proof that he could fulfil them.

D. The Jewish Law of Redemption also included slavery, if a man had been in slavery for 6 years then at the 7th year he was set free.

Man has been in slavery about 6000 years and is about to be set free by the Kinsman Redeemer.

V. Qualifications of a kinsman redeemer:

A. He had to be a near relative.

B. He had to be willing to redeem.

C. He had to be able to pay the price of redemption.

VI. If the land had not been bought within 7 years then it would remain under its ownership but it could always be bought back.

VII. Man lost the authority over the earth when they sinned and Satan gained power over man and the earth.

He makes us worthy

VIII. Jesus is the redeemer “Goel” of man and the earth: Matt.13:44

A. He alone has conquered over Satan and Sin. Col.1:13; 2:14-15

B. He was a kinsman, He alone was willing and He alone could pay the price of redemption with a sinless blood.

Because He is worthy

I saw him looking for me, craning his neck to look up the aisle. My face flushed, and I suddenly couldn’t wait to be with him. I had seen my beloved. The love in Ken’s face had washed away all my feelings of unworthiness. I was his pure and perfect bride.

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.