Advent: Day 23

This is the final day of Advent this year. It is Christmas Eve, which means tomorrow we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today's reading comes from the last book of the Bible, looking forward to the second Advent (second coming) of Jesus:

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. (Re. 5:1-14)

Worthy is Jesus because He was slain and by His blood He ransomed God's people. He is the lion and the lamb at the same time. Christmas proclaims the event of Jesus' birth but we know that He was born so that about thirty years later He might die for His people. It is in this very death that He showed He is worthy of all praise, glory, and honor. Unfortunately, since we live in a fallen world, He still does not get the praise He deserves from humanity, even from the Church. But, one day He will return and set things right, and on that day "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Php. 2:10-11)

Oh Lord, haste that day!

By His Grace,
Taylor