The Worthy Executive of God's Plan
On Sunday morning, Rev.James MacIver preached on Revelation 5: 1 – 7, Jesus, the Worthy Executive of God’s Plan. He described the passage as being like a drama, though not in the same sense as fantasies like ‘Game of Thrones’. Instead, the opening of this scroll, which is at the heart of the chapter, represents the unfolding of God’s plan – of the church in history, of the present-day church and of all that God will do in the future.
Central to the understanding of John’s vision is the question posed by the angel: ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ Mr MacIver likened the question to the beginning of a search to fill a very specific post – it needed someone who was both divine and human; to take on the sin of His people; to remove the curse; and to take on the might of God’s wrath against sin, both vicariously and victoriously.
Of course, John wept because none could be found who had all this moral authority, and all these qualifications. It calls to mind the later chapters of the Book of Job, where God also asks him whether he thinks himself worthy to govern the universe. Job eventually saw his own unworthiness because he saw God’s infinite deity. And John, despairing at the knowledge that death would reign if no one could be found who would open the seals, rejoiced when one of the elders said, ‘Weep no more’.
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David is uniquely qualified. This twin description of Him evokes God’s promises in the Old Testament which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ – He is both a son of David and an ancestor of David. He is David’s son in His incarnation, but David’s ancestor in His deity. His absolute fitness to open the scroll is not only because of who He is, though, but because of what He has done. Verse 5 makes this abundantly clear: ‘has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals’.
In a startling juxtaposition of images, although He is referred to as ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah’, Christ is then described as having the appearance of a lamb that has been slain. Here, the allusion is not to meekness, but to sacrifice.
Finally, Mr MacIver spoke of the ‘audience’s response’ – that is, those of us who see this drama play out in the Book of Revelation.
The Christian faith has no shame in saying that this Lion, this Lamb, IS unique. No other faith or creed can boast such a Saviour as this. Therefore, salvation for Christians is not a theory or a philosophy: it rests in Him, and on His position, dignity and status.
In a world which seems to be unremittingly sad, difficult and dangerous, this is hope. All these awful, disturbing events are contained in the scroll – but the scroll is in the hands of Jesus Christ, who alone is worthy for the task. Atheists, secularists, and people of every creed which seeks to displace God, may also be posed the question: who among you is worthy to take the fate of mankind in your hands? There is no one to utter the comforting words, ‘weep no more’.
None of these dictators or perpetrators of evil can decide the destiny of the world; they too are in the scroll, but the scroll – God’s plan – is in the hands of our Saviour.
