Worthy Is the Lamb

A scroll lies in the hand of the one on the throne of heaven, sealed seven times. A mighty angel calls out with a loud voice to all creation: who is worthy to open it? And there is silence.

John, exiled on the island of Patmos, has been given a vision of heaven. He has seen a door open, and a throne, and someone seated on it, shining like jasper and carnelian, with a rainbow around the throne like an emerald. Around it sit twenty-four elders in white with golden crowns, and four living creatures who never stop saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Now, in the right hand of the one on the throne, John sees a scroll, written on the inside and on the back, and sealed with seven seals. It seems to hold God's plans for the world. Someone must open it.

But no one in heaven, or on earth, or under the earth is able to open the scroll or even look at it. And John begins to weep, loudly. If no one can open it, then God's purposes will stay locked up. Then one of the elders says to him, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” The Lion of Judah, from Jacob's blessing over his son Judah. The Root of David, the king from David's family that Isaiah promised. The great conqueror has won. John turns to look for the lion.

And he sees a Lamb. “In the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain.” Not a roaring lion, but a lamb, still bearing the marks of having been killed, yet standing, alive. It has seven horns, a picture of complete power, and seven eyes, a picture of the Spirit of God seeing all the earth. The Lamb comes and takes the scroll out of the right hand of the one on the throne. And all heaven responds. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall down before the Lamb, holding harps and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people.

They sing a new song. “You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Every kind of person, from every place. Then John hears angels, so many he cannot count them, thousands upon thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” And then every creature in heaven and on earth, under the earth and in the sea, joins in. Blessing and honour and glory and power to the one on the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever. The four living creatures say, Amen. And the elders fall down and worship.

These words have been sung at Christmas for nearly three hundred years. George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah, first performed in Dublin in April seventeen forty-two, begins with Isaiah's promises of a coming child. It ends not in Bethlehem but here, with a great chorus setting the words Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, followed by a long, soaring Amen.

Worthy is the Lamb. You can read it in Revelation chapter five, verses one to fourteen. The baby born in Bethlehem, laid where the animals fed, came to be the Lamb of God who gave his life. And John saw that he is also the Lion who has won, worshipped by every creature, from every nation, for ever. So here is a question to carry with you. John expected a lion and saw a lamb. What does it tell you about Jesus that he wins by giving himself?