Why Is Jesus the Only One Worthy?

Revelation 5 reveals the Lion who conquered, the Lamb who was slain, and the King who will reign.

Revelation 4 gives us a glimpse into the throne room of heaven. God is seated upon His throne in majestic glory while the four living creatures and twenty-four elders worship Him as the holy Creator of all things. But the world God created for His glory has been corrupted by sin. Satan exercises a limited authority and influence over this fallen world (2 Corinthians 4:4, Matthew 4:8-10), death touches every part of creation, and things are no longer as God designed them to be. Yet Satan’s influence will not last forever. Jesus Christ will carry out God’s plan to redeem His people, reclaim His creation, judge evil, and reign forever. Revelation 5 shows us why Jesus alone is worthy to accomplish that glorious plan.

The Scroll Contains God’s Settled Plan

John sees a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. The right hand represents authority, and the scroll is covered with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken away. It represents God’s unchanging plan for the consummation of history—the judgment of wickedness, the final salvation of His people, the redemption of creation, the establishment of Christ’s kingdom, and Christ claiming all that is rightfully His as the Heir of all things. God has already written the conclusion of history, and He alone has authority over how that plan will unfold.

A mighty angel then asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” (Revelation 5:2). The question is not simply who possesses enough physical strength to open it. Who has the virtue, authority, and inherent worth to carry out God’s plan? Who can judge evil, defeat Satan, redeem creation, vindicate God’s people, bring God’s kingdom, and reclaim what has been corrupted?  No created being is capable of determining or accomplishing creation’s destiny. Someone above the entire created order must carry out the purposes of God. Only the holy, transcendent God can break the scroll's seals and carry out the divine plan.

Why Did John Weep?

No one initially steps forward. Not an angel, elder, ruler, prophet, or faithful believer is found worthy. Abraham does not step forward. Moses does not step forward. David does not step forward. No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth possesses the authority to open the scroll or even look into it. When John realizes that no one has been found worthy, he begins to weep loudly. If the scroll remains closed, will the tyranny of sin and Satan continue to plague creation? Will death remain undefeated? Will God’s people never be fully redeemed? Will God’s kingdom never come? Will God not rule righteously over His creation?

John’s grief reveals what mattered most to him. He longed for God’s purposes to be fulfilled, wrongs to be made right, God’s people to be redeemed, and God’s righteous kingdom to come. The possibility that those things might not happen caused him to weep. Do we share that longing, or have we become so absorbed with life here that we rarely think about what is still to come? We can become consumed with our plans, comfort, families, careers, possessions, and present circumstances while giving little thought to Christ’s future reign. John’s tears challenge us to ask how deeply we desire God’s kingdom and the completion of His redemptive purposes.

The Lion of Judah Has Conquered

One of the elders tells John, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered” (Revelation 5:5). Both titles refer to Jesus. He is the promised King from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:8-12) and the rightful heir to David’s throne (Isaiah 11:1, 10; Jeremiah 23:5-6; 2 Samuel 7:12-16). He is strong, courageous, authoritative, heroic, and victorious. He has conquered sin, Satan, and death through His death and resurrection. He alone possesses the authority to open the scroll and carry out God’s purposes.

We must not sentimentalize Jesus and fail to see Him in all His fullness. Yes, He washed His disciples’ feet. Yes, He welcomed sinners and showed compassion to the suffering. Yes, He willingly hung bloody and dying upon the cross. But He is also the resurrected and ascended Lord. He is the conquering Lion who will return, defeat His enemies, execute judgment, reclaim what belongs to Him, and reign forever. All heaven watches as the One who alone possesses the right and authority to take the scroll approaches the throne of God.

The Lion Is the Lamb Who Was Slain

John hears that the Lion has conquered, but when he looks, he does not see a lion stepping forward. He sees “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6). The Lamb is alive, but He still bears the marks of His sacrifice. Jesus is the resurrected Lord who forever carries the evidence of the price He paid to redeem His people. His sacrifice took place once for all, but its saving effect continues forever.

The Lion conquered by becoming the Lamb. Jesus did not defeat sin and death through earthly force or political power. He conquered by willingly offering Himself upon the cross. He is our Passover Lamb whose blood causes death to pass over everyone who trusts in Him (Exodus 12, 1 Corinthians 5:7). He is the suffering Servant who was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53). He is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Through His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, Jesus conquered everything that brought sin, destruction, death, and despair into God’s good creation.

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." (Hebrews 2:14–15)

Ransomed by the Blood of Christ

The living creatures and elders sing to Jesus, “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” (Revelation 5:9). We were born under the captivity of sin. Sin is not merely a collection of bad choices; it is part of our fallen nature and deserves the holy wrath and justice of God. We could not free ourselves through morality, religious activity, good intentions, or personal effort. Nothing we possessed and nothing we could accomplish could pay the price required to set us free.

But in His grace, God sent His Son to become the Lamb sacrificed in our place. Jesus bore our sins in His body upon the cross and endured the punishment we deserved (1 Peter 2:24). He rose from the dead, demonstrating that the price for sin had been fully paid (Romans 4:25). When we turn from our sin and place our faith in Christ—not in our works, but entirely in His finished work—the ransom He paid is applied to us. We are forgiven, redeemed, and set free from the captivity of sin, death, and condemnation. The Lamb was slain, but He is standing. Jesus is alive, and His once-for-all sacrifice remains eternally effective for everyone He has redeemed.

Jesus Alone Is Worthy

Jesus approaches the throne and takes the scroll from the right hand of God. No one else in creation could do this. Jesus alone is worthy because of who He is and what He has done in His work of redemption. He is worthy because He is God. Revelation 5:6 describes Him as possessing perfect power, knowledge, and presence  (the seven horns and seven eyes remind us of His characteristics of deity: His omnipotence, omniscient, and omnipresence; possibly the fullness of the Holy Spirit that also dwelt in Him). He is not merely a heroic religious leader, a moral example, or one spiritual authority among many. He is the holy and eternal Son of God who possesses the inherent worth and authority to accomplish what only God can do.

He is also worthy because He was slain and ransomed a people for God “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). The redeemed come from every part of the world and are made a kingdom under Christ’s rule and priests with access to God. One day, they will reign with Him in His renewed creation. Jesus will return as the Lion to claim what He purchased as the Lamb. Because of His sacrificial work and His inherent worth as God, He alone can open the scroll, defeat every enemy, redeem creation, and bring God’s kingdom.

Worship Erupts in Heaven

When Jesus takes the scroll, worship erupts throughout heaven. The living creatures and elders fall down before the Lamb and sing a new song celebrating His work of redemption. Countless angels then join them, declaring, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12). Finally, every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea joins the song of praise.

Jesus does not merely receive respect or admiration. He receives worship. All honor, glory, blessing, and praise belong to Him. The worship of heaven reminds us that Jesus must not occupy a small or secondary place in our lives. He is not simply someone we consult when we need help or add to a life that remains centered upon ourselves. He is the holy Lord around whom all of history—and all of life—must revolve. If heaven recognizes His infinite worth, then our lives should be marked by humble awe, enthusiastic joy, faithful obedience, and worship.

The Goal of History Is the Reign of Christ

The goal of history is not human progress, personal comfort, political success, a happier family, or a more perfect society. Those things may have value, but they are not where history is ultimately going. The goal of all history is the eternal reign of the holy Christ. God’s kingdom will come. Satan will not always exercise his evil influence over this world. Sin and death will not have the final word. Jesus will return, judge wickedness, redeem creation, and reign in righteousness with His redeemed people.

This is what we ask for when we pray, “Your kingdom come.” We are praying for Christ to carry out God’s purposes, defeat every enemy, make all things new, and establish His righteous reign. The prayers of God’s people are precious to Him (incense in golden bowls, 5:8), and when Christ opens the scroll, prophecy will be fulfilled and those prayers will be answered (see also Revelation 6:10). Believers should pray for that day, expect it, and long for it. We must not become so distracted by this world that we stop looking toward our future home and the complete redemption that is coming through Christ.

Live with Your Eyes Fixed on Christ

John’s vision should change how we live now. The Jesus who will receive the worship of all creation is worthy of our worship today. Keep this vision of Christ before you when you leave church, return to work, raise your children, face suffering, or make ordinary decisions. Remember how history will end. Our lives are not ultimately about us, and we cannot live however we please while fixing our attention on the things of this world.

Instead, we offer our bodies to God as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him (Romans 12:1-2). The Lamb has ransomed us to become His holy people, and the Lion will return to reign. Until then, we live in light of His certain victory. See the worthy Christ. See the eternal purposes of God that are sure to come. See what Jesus has done to bring His people into His kingdom forever. Then join the living creatures, the elders, the countless angels, and all creation in giving worship to the One who alone is worthy of all glory, honor, blessing, and praise.

The Lamb who was slain is the Lion who will reign.

Questions for Reflection

• What does John’s grief reveal about his longing for God’s kingdom?
• Are you more occupied with the things of this world than with Christ’s coming reign?
• Why is Jesus worthy to open the scroll when no one else is?
• How does seeing Jesus as both the Lion and the Lamb deepen your understanding of Him?
• What does it mean to pray sincerely for God’s kingdom to come?
• What area of your life needs to be surrendered in worship to the One who ransomed you?