Revelation

Revelation 5: The slain Lamb is worthy

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the Lamb who was slain and is worthy of all worship, let us call on God together. Ask Him to keep our eyes on Christ and to teach our family how worthy He is.

God who is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?

Job 9:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us the Lamb who was slain, and help us to see that He is worthy. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

John's vision of the throne reaches a book in God's right hand, written on both sides and shut with seven seals. No one can open it or look inside, and John weeps because no one is found worthy. An elder announces that the Lion of Judah has overcome, and John sees a living Lamb bearing the marks of death. The Lamb takes the book, and the creatures and elders fall before Him with a new song about His redeeming blood. Countless angels proclaim His worth, and every created thing gives praise to the One on the throne and to the Lamb.

As you read Revelation 5, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The Lamb who was slain is worthy, for He bought people for God from every nation and He reigns.

The sealed book holds God's purpose, and opening it requires the right to carry that purpose out. John's tears show the weight of finding no one worthy anywhere in creation. The elder names the promised King from Judah and David's line, announcing that He has already overcome. John then sees the Lamb, so the King's victory is shown through His sacrificial death. The Lamb stands alive, and His seven horns picture complete power rather than helplessness. His blood bought people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation, making them kings and priests. Their new song therefore celebrates a rescue accomplished by His death, never a rescue they supplied for themselves. Worship widens from the creatures and elders to the angels and every created thing. The Lamb receives the same worship as the One on the throne because He is God the Son.

How does Revelation 5 show us that the Lamb who was slain is worthy, because He bought people for God from every nation and He reigns?

Only the Lamb is worthy to open God's sealed book.

The book is in God's right hand, written on both sides and sealed with seven seals (verse 1). The angel asks who is worthy, and no one throughout creation can open or look in it (verses 2 and 3). John weeps because the right to unfold God's purpose belongs to none of them. The Lamb takes the book from God's hand and answers that need (verses 5 to 7).

The conquering Lion is the Lamb who died and lives.

The elder names the Lion of Judah and Root of David as the One who has overcome (verse 5). Those titles identify the promised King from Judah and David's line. John sees “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (verse 6). The victorious King's power is shown through His death, and the Lamb stands alive to take the book.

The Lamb's blood bought people from every nation for God.

The song explains His worth through His death and purchase of people for God (verse 9). Their price was His blood, so their rescue rests on what He gave. He bought people out of every tribe, language, people and nation. He made them kings and priests, and they will reign on the earth (verse 10).

The Lamb receives the worship of heaven and every created thing.

The creatures and elders fall before the Lamb, carrying harps and bowls of incense that are the saints' prayers (verse 8). The angels proclaim His worth in a host beyond counting (verses 11 and 12). Every created thing then gives praise to the One on the throne and to the Lamb together (verse 13). The same worship belongs to Father and Son, so the Lamb is God. The elders fall and worship as the creatures answer Amen (verse 14).

Memorise

Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!

Revelation 5:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, whom am I trusting to take away my sin?

John wept because no one was worthy to open the book. Then he looked, and he saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain. The Lion had overcome, and He overcame as the Lamb who was slain.

Jesus is that Lamb. He was killed for His people, and heaven sings that He “bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation.” That song belongs to the people He bought. He paid for their sin on the cross. He bought His people, and they are His. His blood is enough, and the work is done. He rose, and now He stands alive in the middle of the throne.

So come to the Lamb. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. He is worthy, and no one else is. He calls sinners from every tribe, language, people and nation, and everyone who comes to Him is forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus is the Lamb who was slain, and that He alone is worthy. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Parents, the part to teach is who opened the book, and we do not guess what it holds.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for the Lamb who was slain, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 5:8

Lord Jesus, You are the Lamb who was slain, and You are worthy. Thank You for shedding Your blood for Your people. Please lead each of us to turn from sin and trust You alone. Help us to worship You this week. Amen.