A Revelation Invitation

(The “Worthy Is the Lamb” series begins here.)

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, 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!” (Revelation 5:11-12 ESV)

Worldly leaders almost always pursue power and wealth but are rarely worthy of it. As I noted in previous posts, Jesus neither abused power nor pursued wealth, yet lived a life worthy of both. Our theme passage also ascribes to Jesus wisdom, a rare quest for our leaders today, but a foundation of Jesus’ life and teachings.

From his youth, Jesus sought wisdom. On his first visit to Jerusalem, where did his parents find him but in the temple “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46 ESV)? His youth was characterized by growth in this way. As Luke conveys, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52 ESV). It seems that Jesus was not born wise, but studied the Scriptures and learned from his parents and teachers growing in understanding and wisdom.

How does one determine whether Jesus was worthy of this wisdom? We must consider how he expressed and used his wisdom. Did he wield it as a weapon with which to control and manipulate his followers to serve him? Or did he use it to their benefit? The rich ruler, for example, came to him with a question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16 ESV). There is much to be said about the wisdom Jesus showed in this interaction. At the root of the man’s question, Jesus recognized that the man’s heart was bound up in his wealth. When he replied, “Go, sell what you possess”, who did he say to give the money to? Did Jesus say give me the money to support my ministry? No, he said to give the money to the poor, showing that Jesus was worthy of wisdom.

There are also many examples of Jesus expressing wisdom so great that he completely confounded his adversaries and astounded the crowds. When the woman caught in adultery was brought to him for judgment, his wise response avoided the trap set for him. He was both faithful to the law of Moses and merciful to the adulteress. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7b ESV). He again showed that he was worthy of wisdom. What other examples come to mind? Share your favorite in the comments.

Whenever he taught he left the people astonished. Because he had not received the classic training in Jerusalem that all the other lawyers and teachers had received, they wondered, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?” (Matthew 13:54b ESV). And he used his wisdom and understanding to liberate rather than to burden (as he would accuse the Pharisees of doing).

Now we join with the chorus of angels singing, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive wisdom.”

(Part 4 of the “Worthy Is the Lamb” series is here.)