“Worthy is the Lamb” (Revelation 5:2-14; John 21:1-19)

Revelation 5:2-14 John 21:1-19

Pastor Tom Johnson, April 10, 2016

The scene in heaven begins the angel asking the colossal question, “Who is worthy?” “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” (Rev 5:2b). No one worthy can be found—even in the company of heavenly beings. So John begins to weep bitterly. Even the perfect, heavenly angels are not worthy. No one is found who qualifies. No one is righteous enough or pure enough to break the seals and unroll this holy scroll of Scripture. No one has the authority, power, spiritual capital or credentials to reveal the Word.

John weeps bitterly because it is a bitter pill to swallow: we are not worthy. We cannot make ourselves worthy. We cannot make ourselves acceptable to God by our own effort, our own merit, our own supposed righteousness. Martin Luther in his catechism says, “I cannot by my own reason or strength…come to him.” Hours of meditation, prayer, or ritual will not transcend this reality. We cannot become worthy by our own reason or strength. We cannot give our time, talent, and treasure to purchase this worthiness or God’s love and acceptance. There is no humility for those who think they are worthy—only pharisaical pride. There is no joy for those who think themselves to be worthy—for they have only themselves for their accomplishments—not God.

You’ll remember Peter who was a professional fisherman when he first encountered Jesus. That early morning he had to confront his own failure. He spent all night fishing and caught nothing. But at Jesus’ word, He caught more fish than he could have imagined. Peter said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). “Get away from me, Jesus. Because Your words and actions reveal my true self—that I am empty of any merit. I am unworthy.” It is alarming to realize that it is only by Christ’s worthiness that he caught such an abundance of fish.

You’ll remember John the Baptist who had the same self-understanding. His first words about our Lord were, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (Luke 3:16). John is the greatest of mortals, Jesus tells us. He is more than a prophet. And yet, he is empty of worthiness—no spiritual capital of his own making. John the Baptist is unworthy to do even the most mundane act: to untie the Lord’s sandal.

You’ll remember the prodigal son from a few weeks ago. The first evidence that he has come to his senses is when he plans to his father, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son!” (Luke 15:19).

The angels tell John to stop crying. Why? Because the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, the great Conqueror is here. Remember the strong angel’s question: “Who is worthy?”? A great company of sinless, perfected saints and angels ask that. Even these creatures are not worthy as the resurrected Jesus is worthy. Which is even more sobering. Because even if we could achieve perfection and sinlessness here on earth as the angels have in heaven, it would still not make us worthy.

This morning we see the transformation of Peter. When he first encountered Jesus after a failed night fishing, he shrunk back in fear and shame that he was a sinful man. His was confronted by his failure and unworthiness. After the resurrection, Peter encounters Jesus again, as we heard earlier in our Gospel reading. Peter experiences another night of failed fishing. And not only that—but he had just denied Him three times—the rooster’s crow still ringing in his ears. But when the Lord fills his nets with fish this time, he does not shrink back from Jesus but flees toward Him. His guilt and shame melt away by the overwhelming forgiveness of His Savior. Peter is so overcome with resurrection joy that he cannot wait for the boat to reach the shore. He jumps in and swims toward Jesus.

And so it is for us. God makes us worthy by him who is worthy—the Lamb of God. As the heavenly song to our risen Lord says, “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” (Rev 5:9). We are worthy to be here because of Him who shed His precious blood for us. We come to Jesus drenched from head to toe in our baptism. He washes away our sin, guilt, and shame. We are worthy because he who is worthy has made us worthy. And so we join the heavenly chorus of praise to our Redeemer: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! … “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever” (Rev 5:13).

Let praises ring;
Give thanks, and bring
To Christ our Lord adoration.
His honor speed
By word and deed
To ev’ry land, ev’ry nation.
So shall His love
Give us above,
From misery
And death set free,
All joy and full consolation.            (from “With High Delight Let Us Unite” (LSB 483 v. 1)