He Is Worthy - Himalayan Heights – June 7 Readings: Revelation 5:8-14 – Worthy Is the Lamb

 Revelation 1-5 - Seeing Jesus

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.

Today's Reading:  Revelation 5:8-14

The last book of the Bible does exactly what its title says it will do, it reveals Jesus Christ to us in a way that is unique in Scripture.

When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:

You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slaughtered,

and you purchased people

for God by your blood

from every tribe and language

and people and nation.

10 You made them a kingdom

and priests to our God,

and they will reign on the earth.

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice,

Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered

to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing!

13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,

Blessing and honor and glory and power

be to the one seated on the throne,

and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Through the Bible Readings: 2 Kings 19-20, John 11:45–57, Psalm 71:7–14, Proverbs14:25-26

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: He is Worthy    

There was a shift in the mood of heaven. John had been grieved that no one was worthy to fix the broken world and consummate it in God’s glory, but that evaporated, replaced by an eternal celebration. The Lamb received the scroll and the celebration began.

The Twenty-four elders, representing the leaders of God’s redeemed, sang a new song.. Jesus puts a new song on our lips. Read verses 9-10 again. 

Jesus is not just worthy and powerful, he is successful. Think of how many people have tried to rule the world and failed, how many have gathered great armies and conquered great territories only to meet their limits. How many rich people have accumulated wealth beyond our wildest imaginings and then discovered the truth of old adage, “You can’t take it with you.” How many famous and powerful people have fallen hard, showing Solomon wasn’t kidding when he said, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” But Jesus came as a Lamb. He humbled himself and he served. He gave and he died. He never sought the things others do and then, having died for our sins, he rose to a place no other person ever has. He rose from the dead and was exalted to the highest place and given the name that is above every name. When the end comes, there will only be One worthy – the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God. Why? Because he invested his life in purchasing a people for God through his death. He shed his blood so that we could have forgiveness and new life and rose as Lord of all.

And he calls us to “take up our crosses” and walk that way. We must trust in Jesus as our only hope of salvation then follow him on the Way of the Cross. Humility instead of pride. Service instead of aggression and riches and self-advancement. As he laid down his life for the salvation of others we must invest ours in that same cause. He sought people of every tribe and language on earth and we must do the same.

The angels and living creatures raise up their praise to the Lamb who is worthy and then the redeemed (that's us, folks) say, "Amen." That is how life should be. We were meant to worship the Lamb who was slain, to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him. Easter demands a response from all of us.  

My friend, you cannot ignore the Lamb of God who is the Lion of Judah. You cannot listen to this message and just go on your way. You have a choice - either join the heavenly throng or you reject the King of kings. The angel said “He is worthy” and God gave Jesus the scroll. That means that Jesus owns this world and is writing its story. It ends with him and he is the one before whom each of us must stand. To him, every knee will bow. Before him, every tongue will confess.

Today, there is one question that has been settled and one that has not. The cosmic question is not at issue anymore.

Is he worthy? He is!

Did he pay for the sins of the world? He did.

Has he conquered Satan and death and hell? He has.

Does he hold the scroll? He does.

Is the future of this world in his hands? It is.

Will the world end in his glory? It will.

Is Jesus King of kings and Lord of lords? He is.

Our hearts often remain pockets of resistance against the cosmic reality. Jesus is Lord of all, but we resist that Lordship in our lives. He is King of kings, but we fight his dominion over us. So, I would end this tonight by asking you to respond to some questions. You can answer them out loud if you’d like. The answers are simple. He is. He did. It is. He does. I often do all the talking in our messages and it is time that all of us testify, from the depths of our hearts, to the reality of Jesus. So, I would ask you to answer some questions today.

Is he worthy?  He is.

Did he pay the price as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world, and for yours?  He did.

Did he rise up as the Lion of Judah to conquer sin and death and hell? He did.

Is he worthy of your love, your life, your service? He is.

Will you deny yourself to serve him? I will.

Will you take up your cross and follow him whatever it costs? I will.

Are you willing to live for him and die for him? I am.

Will you live your life to hear the Savior’s words, well done? I will.

Do you long for that glorious day that you see Jesus face to face and you can join the praise of heaven? I do.

Think and Pray:

Take some time and pray your way through the questions above.