The text this morning is from John’s Revelation, the fifth chapter:
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 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. 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, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.Thus far the text.
My dear friends in Christ,
He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! And He is risen and is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals. But what is this scroll? Why is it sealed? What is its purpose? The scroll today in the hand of God is the Old Testament. Now, don’t get too caught up in this, but remember that this is the entirety of the Scripture for the apostles, and even for Jesus. Later, as the Apostles’ writings were gathered together, and as they were attested to by the Church, did the writings of the New Testament come to be put into the same book as Scripture. But, for most of Christian history, the Old Testament was it.
And that’s enough. In some ways, with the knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord, that’s all you need for your doctrine and life. Everything we know and believe can be found in the Old Testament. And this whole book was written on a scroll that could be held in the hand of God. It’s filled up, front and back, showing us that it is complete. It’s filled all things. And it’s sealed up, seven times, meaning that it’s perfectly set to be sent to its recipient. But, who is that? Who is worthy to receive the entirety of the word of God? No one could be found anywhere who could receive this holy Word of God, because it is as if they are receiving Christ Himself.
There was much weeping and gnashing of teeth over this, mainly because Christ was being rejected and scorned by men, yet again. No one, because of their sin, is worthy to receive the Christ. And no one wants Him. The messengers of God have gone to and fro searching for one, but there was not one found.
But one was not to be found on the earth to open the scrolls, to make clear the wisdom and knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. But He would be, would He? He was already ascended to the right hand of the Father, and that Lamb took the scroll without fear of the Father. The only one worthy to receive Christ is Christ Himself. God sent His Son into the world to bring forth the Word and work of God, to receive the death deserved for His sinful creation. Before the foundation of the world was laid, it was already planned that the Christ would bring Himself into humanity and die sacrificially for them. He knew He would be the only worthy one, and so all the Word of God that He inspired, He inspired it to point to Himself, to point to His death and resurrection. And He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Christ alone is worthy, and so He takes the scroll. And when He does, all the elders and the angels fall down and worship the Lord. They, holding the prayers of the saints, fall in worship with all the saints of this Lamb who was slain. Their song we still sing today. We still sing their words in the Church, even after 2000 years. Their words are eternal, for the worship of Christ is eternal. They are worshipping Him even at this very moment with us.
This picture that we have of this scene in heaven is marvelous. It’s not too confusing, it’s plain, it’s endearing, it’s comforting. It gives to us a picture of what the worship of God looks like: being centered on the Lamb. It is essential that the work and worship of the Church be centered on Jesus. When we take off our eyes of Jesus, just about anything goes. If Jesus is not the center, and I mean everything He’s said and done, and everything is in service to what He told us to do, which is to forgive sins, then the Church goes off-track.
When we are not centered on Christ, we despair and weep because we’re not focused on the right thing. John wept because they couldn’t find anyone worthy to open the scroll, to explain the Scriptures and fulfill it. And it’s not that he forgot Jesus, but it’s there to show us that, without Him, we should weep as well.
Without Jesus as the center of all things, we focus on ourselves, on our hearts, on our needs. We focus on all the wrong things. We can think of churches that have done this, that have become little more than circus shows to entertain the goats. They have forgotten the gift of the liturgy, literally praying and singing the Words of Scripture back to God and Him coming to forgive our sins. They have forgotten the reverence they need to have of God, with enthusiasm and orgiastic physicality serving the new sacraments instead of pleading for mercy because of our great sin. And we do this in life, as well. We know what’s better for us than God. We can do this because, after all, we’re free in the Gospel. We can lust, steal, adulter, whatever it is we want to do.
When Christ is not the center and the circumference of all we do, when He is not the heart and soul of all we focus on, when He is not the point and limit, then we lose our way. It happens time and time again.
But, when we center on Christ and His gifts, when focus on His goodness and mercy shown through His life, death, and resurrection, when we zero in on His promises to be faithful and just to us, we find ourselves with laser-like focus. We find ourselves figuring out what pleases God rather than man. We find ourselves hearing His Word, believing those promises, receiving His Sacraments. We find ourselves squarely in the realm of the Christ, following His Words, but also focused on He who gave them.
Perhaps this is confusing. When Christ is the center of our lives, everything we do revolves around Him. We hear His Word, hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it. We receive His sacraments, His gifts. We find the forgiveness of sins we so dangerously need. We work to live our lives according to the Law of God, not to earn His favor, but for the sake of love for our neighbor. When Christ is the center, we will do things a certain way, live a certain way, act a certain way. And it plays out in the Church the same. When the Church is centered on Christ, we will do things a certain way, worship a certain way, pray a certain way. And why? Because what we do in the Church actually does matter.
The elders and the angels teach us this today. They searched for the Worthy One, and found Him bloody because of His crucifixion, honored for His death, glorified in His resurrection, and they fell down in worship. That’s the right response to Jesus coming into the midst of you. That’s the right action.
And so, today, even as Jesus comes into our midst by the work of the Spirit, by water, by the Word, and by bread and wine, our response is to worship. And so we have, and so we shall, for the risen and ascended Lord is in our midst. Where two or more are gathered in His name, around His Word, around His Sacraments, there He is. He is here among us, worthy to be Lamb who was slain, worthy to open the scroll, worthy to forgive sins, worthy to be our Lord, worthy to be the Christ, worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing forever, for He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord! Amen.
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