Revelation 5:8-10: Why is He Worthy?
In the previous post on Revelation 5:1-7, we saw an angel raise a question: Is anyone worthy to take the scroll from the right hand of God? At first it seemed that there was no one who could step forward, but then Jesus appears. He is the only one worthy of this. Everyone recognizes that he is worthy, but the question of why this is so is only partially fleshed out (see 5:5). It is in the song of the redeemed in the next verses that helps us answer the question, “Why is he worthy?” It is their song that will be the center of our attention today as we look at Revelation 5:8-10.
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
The living creatures and the twenty-four elders recognize who this is. This is the God-man, the promised Messiah, the Lamb of God. The conquering King has arrived to take the scroll his Father had promised him. The only proper response is to fall down in worship. But this is not mere duty. This is desire. The twenty-four elders are compelled by love and gratitude for their Brother.
The harps (probably sanctified guitars) would create joyful praise with each strum. The prayers of God’s people are carried in golden bowls. While our prayers may seem to be worth little to nothing in this world, they are precious and of great value to our Lord. What a sweet fragrance they are to our Triune God! I wonder if it wouldn’t encourage us to pray more if we envisioned our prayers being carried to the throne of grace in golden bowls!
As the elders fell to the ground in worship, they cracked open their brand new hymnals:
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Jesus is worthy because he has accomplished salvation for his people. We were in bondage to sin and death and he conquered both of them for us. The song mentions that he was “slain” and that we were ransomed by his “blood,” which are obvious references to his death. But more than just his death is in view. The whole of his life, death and resurrection are present here. Remember, it is the resurrected Lamb that they are singing to! So what about his life, death and resurrection makes him worthy? Let’s look at each of these.
When the angel asked “is anyone worthy?” and the answer came back in silence, it was a reflection of the truth that no one is good, no not one (Romans 3). Adam failed in the garden and everyone after him has no chance of fulfilling the law of perfect righteousness that God requires. But the one who was slain walked in faith, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in perfect obedience, fulfilling every jot and tittle of the law for us. He is worthy because he saves by his righteous life.
Our Jesus gave himself into the hands of unjust men that they might humiliate, and ultimately kill him. He willingly laid down his life, going like a sheep to the slaughter. He was whipped mercilessly and nailed to the cross. In his suffering and death, he satisfied the wrath of God that should have been ours. Though his sheep were the ones who deserved the cross, he drank the cup of God’s wrath down to the dregs. There is no wrath left for us. He is worthy because he saves us by his atoning death.
Our Jesus was laid into the tomb and had the stone rolled over the opening. His body sat in darkness and silence. But death could not hold our crucified Lord. He rose triumphantly, inaugurating the New Creation in himself. He is worthy because he saves us by his resurrection unto New Life.
Jesus has done everything that is necessary for our redemption. Even him taking the scroll is part of our salvation! He must reconcile all things to himself. He must finish what has begun and bring it all to completion. Your salvation and mine are not complete until all is made new in the New Heavens and the New Earth.
And this salvation has no geographical bounds. It reaches across every border into every square inch of the planet. There are people of every race and language who have been bought with the blood of Christ. This is for his glory! You might remember something from our series in Isaiah 49, where the Father says to his Son, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isa 49:6). This salvation is reaching the ends of the earth and he is bringing people into his kingdom and making them priests to serve him. The song of the Worthy King and his gospel is being sung around the world!
And this is the song the world needs to hear. Do you think this current crisis has thwarted the conquering King and his gospel? No, no, no. Now is the time of harvest! The world is in disarray and many of the people around us are afraid, in despair, and hopeless. Let’s sing the song of the gospel to them through our words and actions. Let them see and know the hope that can be theirs if they turn to the one who has conquered death. Let’s sing of his worthiness!
But this is also the song we, the redeemed, need to hear again as well. We sing not just for others, we sing for ourselves. For we can just as easily be led into fear and despair. Let us hear again that our Jesus has saved us, and though we may die, we will rise again. Sin and death have no hold on us. Let us hear our precious Savior’s voice saying, “Do not fear. I have conquered.” Let us sing with the voices of heaven to the worthy Lamb who has taken the scroll.
A final question: What did those voices around the throne and the Lamb sound like? I imagine the most joyous, beautiful and perfect harmony rising from the hearts of the elders. But there is more celebration to come, so I will save that for our final post in this series.