Thoughts for the Day

Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?' And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.'

Then I saw the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered.....He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song:

'You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals;
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and people and nation.'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

What images John's vision conjures up - God's throne, surrounded by archangels and angels and at the centre the magnificent figure that John hardly dares to mention, but calls 'the one who was upon the throne'.

A scroll is presented with seven seals to keep it closed. Traditionally the scroll was held by the left hand and unrolled from the right, the left hand then rolling up the part that had been read. Extremely important documents, like a will, were sealed with seven seals. What is the document? Is it God's plans for His world? We don't know because only the Lamb was worthy enough to open the scroll and read it.

We might expect the Messiah to be shown as a lion, a strong, majestic creature, but although he is called this, his image is a little lamb, all bloodied and scarred. He is the very image of humility, and of sacrificial love. For Christians, this is Jesus, who was crucified for our sin. It is an image we see throughout our churches in stained glass windows.

Lord God,
as we read of the image of the bloodied lamb,
may we not forget that our sins still cause You pain.
As we read of Your humility,
Your sacrifice,
and Your love for us,
may we never cease
to be thankful.
Amen.