Wednesday 7th December - Revelation 5

Today’s chapter is Revelation 5, you can read it here

Tom writes:

The scroll represents God’s plan and his authority. He will win back his earth and the scroll says how. But no one can open it. Angels are shouting, John is weeping and weeping and the elders are falling on their faces. But the One on the Throne sits serene and secure. He knows his plan is good. And he knows the one who will enact it. This is a vision of reality right here. Never mind Newsnight. Never mind I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here. If we really want to know where it is at, if we really want to get a glimpse of governmental power and authority then we need to flick off the television and get our face in Revelation 5.  This is the future. And this is the present. And this is the past. God, on his throne, knowing. God on his throne serene and secure. The root of Jesse enacting his plan to win back his earth. Except there is a surprise in this passage. The surprise is why and how Jesus is worthy. The surprise is what that means for the church. This surprise defines the whole of the rest of the book. Are you ready?

The worthiness of Jesus is due to his death. Jesus is worthy because he was slain for the sake of the world. No-one, not even the greatest of the saints was willing nor able to pay such a price. And it is for that reason - his willingness to die an obedient death of atonement - that Jesus is the worthy one. It is worth really dwelling on this point because the implications are massive. We see what it means to be in the Kingdom. A church who is seeing brothers burned alive by Nero or ripped apart by lions sees where victory and worthiness is found; it is found in humble obedience to the Father and sustained love for our neighbour. When we are persecuted we do not kick back nor fall back. We turn our cheek and love them back. We overcome evil with good. We stand firm, even to the point of death. And when it looks like we are losing we rejoice in our weaknesses. We aim for faithfulness. We take up our cross and emulate the lamb who was slain, choosing to enact the Father’s plans no matter the cost.

Question for reflection

How are you emulating the lamb in the midst of your battles?