Then I saw in the right hand of
him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with
seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is
worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the
earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who
was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not
weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He
is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelations 5: 1-5
Between Revelations chapters four
and five there is a great transition in the roles of Jesus that reflects the
heart of the Gospel. Revelations 4 declares
“you are worthy”, Revelations 5 ask the question “who is worthy.” Heaven
has no difficulty comprehending the divinity of Jesus Christ. His glory was witnessed in heaven before he
came to earth and after he returned to heaven.
Jesus references His glory in John 17:5 when he prays to the Father his
prayer references the glory “I had with you before the world began”, yet heaven
was slow to acknowledge his role as human representative. Slow enough that John began to lament for the
fate of the human family when none were found worthy to open the scroll and its
seals. The responsibility of Jesus as the
only representative of mankind who is worthy is demonstrated in the title that
is referenced. He is from the tribe of
Judah and the lineage of David. For so
it is written, in the scriptures, that the Messiah must be both in order to
qualify as he who is worthy.
Genesis 49:10 reads, “The scepter
will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until
he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.”
Jeremiah 23:5 declares, “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will
raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what
is just and right in the land.” Both prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. However
this is only a partial qualification.
Hebrews chapter four brings the full measure of his qualifications
together for mankind. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has
ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we
profess. For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been
tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace
with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our
time of need.” Hebrews 4: 14-16.
John is weeping because he is
failing to understand that Jesus is the sinless man is worthy to open the
scrolls and break the seals. John
failure is often our failure. We forget
how human Jesus is. Jesus ascended into
heaven as a man. He sits at the right hand of the Father as a man. He will return to earth as a man. All the while being eternally “God from God,
true God from true God, one in being with the Father”.
I feel like I need to say
something of the scroll that is written on both sides. A scroll that is written on both sides can be
partially read. This would mean that
you could obtain a partial understanding.
To truly know God we must understand that which is hidden, His divine
nature. John 1:18 states “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son,
who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him
known.” You must also understand what is seen.
John 15:15 “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not
know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything
that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
John was comforted when he
recognized both the divinity and the humanity of our savior. I pray in the difficult days that are to come,
you will be comforted in the knowledge that our savior is both God and
Man.
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