Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
We may think it a great honor to be around the throne of a king, reigning in power. We would be right. However, no matter who you might be, the people around the throne are not actually in the position of power. It is the king who has the authority. In our Epistle this week, from Revelation 5, God, sittting on the throne, has a scroll which needs to be opened and inspected. God’s throne is surrounded by elders and living creatures which seem angelic in nature. Yet even those in the presence of God are not worthy to open the scroll.
Make no mistake. God himself can open the scroll and read it. That isn’t the issue. He wants to pass it on to someone else, so as to show honor. But none is found worthy except, in verse seven, “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (Rev. 5:7, ESV). This, the Lambe of God, who has already been killed on behalf of the entire world, is the only one who rightly can proclaim the judgment of God upon sin.
What is our response to the work of the Christ? He is worthy because He has ransomed us from sin, reconciling us to God, and placing us where we should be, as a people standing rightly before the Lord.
The Lamb of God receives all honor and glory. He is the heart and center of salvation, and thus is also the one who can proclaim God’s righteous judgment against sin and unbelief. The Father gives the croll to the Son because he alone is perfect God and perfect man. This brings glory and honor to God.
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