Scripture Daily

Context No. 704 of 4322 · Revelation

Context · Reflection

Revelation 5:1-5: in context

1I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. 2I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” 3No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or to look in it. 4Then I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look in it. 5One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.”

In the throne room of Revelation, John sees a scroll in the right hand of the One on the throne, written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. It holds, the vision implies, the whole purpose God means to carry out. A mighty angel calls through creation, who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals? And the search comes up empty. No one in heaven, no one on earth, no one under the earth can open it or even look inside.

Then John does something surprising in a book of visions. He weeps. He weeps much, he says, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll. It is the grief that the plan might stay sealed forever, that history's meaning is locked and no hand can turn the key. One of the elders stops him. Do not weep, he says; the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, and he can open the scroll. The tears end not because John has read the scroll but because someone worthy has finally been found. And when he turns to look at this conquering Lion, the next verse will show him a Lamb, standing as though slain, which is a reversal for another day.

John wept because the scroll seemed sealed for good, until one worthy to open it was found. What have I given up on as permanently shut, and stopped believing anyone could open?

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