Is He Worthy?
(Andrew Peterson)
The True Worthiness of Christ the Lamb and King
LYRICS (Click to minimize)
Do you feel the world is broken? (We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
But do you know that all the dark
Won’t stop the light from getting through? (We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)
Is all creation groaning? (It is)
Is a new creation coming? (It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)
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
Does the Father truly love us? (He does)
Does the Spirit move among us? (He does)
And does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loves? (He does)
Does our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)
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 is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
From every people and tribe, every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests to God
To reign with the Son
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Is He worthy of this?
He is!
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
He is!
He is!
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriter: Andrew Peterson / Ben Shive
© 2018 Capitol CMG Genesis, Junkbox Music, Vamos Publishing, Jakedog Music
CCLI Song #7108951 | CCLI License #632898
1 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. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 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.”
6 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. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 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. 9 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,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 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, 12 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!”
13 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!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5 (ESV)
Before you read on, take one more moment to read through the passage a few more times again, slowly enough that you can immerse yourself in the scene. After all, we are all members of the crowd, unworthy to open the scroll but taking hope in the One who is worthy. Take a moment to sit in the beginning lamentation and ultimate joy found in the vision.
The Book of Revelation is often confusing to many people, and for good reason. Within it one finds countless images, various strange beings, and symbolic events. And while the meanings of these details are definitely important, may our confusion not dilute the resounding good news found in the book: Jesus is King and God wins!
Christians often sing of how worthy Jesus is, but do we consider what this means? Sometimes we sing it because it sounds Christianese and worshipful without even giving the word any thought. What a tragic show of apathy! Or sometimes, when we say Christ is worthy, we mean that He is good enough to deserve our praise. He most definitely is, but is that really the point? Does it matter that Jesus, God himself, is “good enough” for us to want to worship Him? Amen, He is worthy of our praise, but considering that He is God and we are human, that is really not saying a lot in the big scheme of things. Indeed, Christ is worthy of so much more!
It is not our praise that makes Christ worthy. Instead, it is because Christ ransomed us with His blood that we can become His kingdom and His priests. We are God’s own people because of Christ the King! He is the Lion and the Lamb, Perfect God and Perfect Man, and to Him alone belongs the throne. There is no one worthy in all the history of mankind to open the seals on God’s scroll, save the one Perfect Image of God.
Praise God that we are ransomed and are now His people meant to reign with Him! Suffice it to say, He alone is worthy! Let us join with all the creatures of the universe in declaring that all blessing, honor, glory, and might be unto the Lamb of God!