Second Sunday

There are days the brokenness just seems to be too much. As we make our way to Jerusalem with Jesus, taking time to contemplate the weight of our sin and the depth of his sacrifice, there are days when it threatens to overwhelm us. Add to that the hurt and pain of a broken world, especially as we have seen it over the past year, and there are times it seems beyond our ability to bear.

It is.

It is absolutely far too much to bear, but for some reason we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that’s what we’re called to do. That’s what brings us to a breaking point—when we allow the weight of all the brokenness to nearly crush us because we think it’s ours to carry.

It’s not.

Then just when we feel we can’t take another step in our Lenten journey, we come to Sunday. Another “mini-Easter” that reminds us that the the final word doesn’t belong to our sin, and it doesn’t belong to the cross. Just as it doesn’t belong to the forces at work in our world that seek to drown out the truth of what Christ has done. The final word belongs, for now and always, to God.

In the fifth chapter of Revelation, John has a vision of a scroll sealed with seven seals, the opening of which will initiate the final judgments of the end times. Scholars are not always in agreement regarding the actual contents of the scroll. Some believe it is a written account of the prophecies about to unfold when the seals are broken, others believe it’s a copy of the Hebrew Torah, still others think it’s a record of the sins of humankind. Some link it to similar scrolls in the Old Testament (Daniel 12:4, Ezekiel 2:9-10) with hidden messages about what lies ahead for humanity as God’s work of salvation draws to a close.

Whatever the exact contents of the scroll, what is certain is that it is of such importance that for a moment the angels (and John) are concerned that nobody is worthy of breaking the seal and revealing its contents.

“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.”—Revelation 5:2-4 (NIV)

The scroll contains, in some form, a revelation of God’s divine plan for the final redemption of the world, a plan that seems at times to be close to defeat because of sin’s weight and the enemy’s schemes. Only one who can claim victory over those is worthy to open the scroll, and just when all seems lost that one appears to take his rightful place and carry out his prescribed work:

“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.’”—Revelation 5:5 (NIV)

Jesus alone is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll, worthy because he is the Lamb who was slain, the one who took sin and death upon himself and forever destroyed their hold over God’s children. In John’s vision he is worshiped as he takes the scroll, with a new song ringing out across the heavens:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”—Revelation 5:9-10 (NIV)

In a fallen world, and in the face of our own fallenness, we need reminders of the worthiness of Christ and the sufficiency of his work. That’s what the “mini-Easter” of Sunday does for us. When we are discouraged, echoing John and the voices who feared nothing could be done to bring about our redemption, we need to be told again that something has already been done by the only one who is worthy. He alone is able to take the brokenness upon himself by virtue of his sacrifice, and he alone is worthy to rob it of its power by virtue of his resurrection. And one day, he alone will return to welcome the ones he has purchased for God into his presence forever. Reminded of this truth, we can join our voices with the heavenly choir:

“You are worthy!”

Is anyone worthy?
Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He was David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy of this?
He is

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) Among the questions asked in this song is: “Do you feel the shadows deepen?” What shadows are deepening in your life? How are you holding those shadows before God? How does the statement “He is worthy” speak into those shadows?

2) The majority of the lyrics in this song are questions. How are questions worshipful? What questions would you bring to God as an offering of worship today?

3) The choir of Revelation 5 sings to the Lamb, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God.” How do you understand those words as they apply to your life? What do you think it means to “be a kingdom and priests” serving God?

4) The book of Revelation is often treated like a horror story, when in truth it is meant to be a word of hope to those who are discouraged, drifting, and distressed. How does the knowledge of Jesus’ final victory impact your experience of this particular season?

5) Read and reflect on this verse. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created and have their being.”—Revelation 4:11 (NIV)