He is the God who Suffers and Saves
There is a breath-taking moment in John's Revelation.In ch.4-5 John is standing in the "control room" of heaven. He can see all of creation, all of the heavenly creatures who worship God and God's Throne in the centre of it all.
Then he sees a scroll. The scroll is sealed and describes the brokenness of the world and the judgement to come. But no-one is worthy to open this painful scroll. No-one is strong enough or gracious enough to open this scroll.
And then Someone wonderful enters the room - Jesus - looking like a lamb that was slain.
He is able to take the scroll and open it.
Why?
Because on the one hand He is worthy - He is without sin and He is strong enough to redeem (buy back or "purchase") people from sin.
On the other hand He was slain - in His humanity He took our place and died for our sin.
He is the God who suffers and saves.
The angelic beings cannot help themselves!
They burst into song.
They worship and so should we!
Jesus is the ultimate Hero, He sacrifices Himself, overcomes our enemies and saves you and me.
Their song is below, read it aloud to yourself, imagine singing it with all of heaven and everyone who has been redeemed.
We worship Him because He is the God who Suffers and Saves.
| And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Revelation5:9) |
