In Revelation 5:3-4, John recalls how he wept because, “…no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was …found worth to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.” Then in verse 5 John is told not to weep.
Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.
Verse 6 goes on to describe this One as “a Lamb as though it had been slain…” And in verse 9 the elders sing a new song saying:
You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Who was this Lamb that was worthy to take the scroll and loose its seals?
In John 1:36, John is standing with two of his disciples,
And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
Jesus, the Lamb of God, was the only one worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals, because Christ, “…redeemed us to God by [His] blood.”
Who then is this man, whose blood redeems all people of all nations?
Paul makes a very powerfule statement concerning Jesus in Titus 2:13-14
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
According to these verses, an inspired Paul asserts to us that the man Jesus Christ was also our great God.
Christ himself made this claim in John 8:58:
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Christ said this in reference to a conversation Moses had with God in Exodus 3.
Exodus 3:13-14 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
By referring to himself as “I AM,” Jesus Christ equated himself with God.
Which means:
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Jesus Christ is man (Romans 1:3)
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Jesus Christ is also God (Romans 1:4)
Philippians 2:5-8 puts it this way:
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore, the one who saves us is also the one who created us (Colossians 1:16, John 1:3). The one who sacrificed His own flesh for us in humility, is also the One who’s Word pierces to the dividing of soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). The One who died to atone for the sins of the unrighteous, is He who’s throne is forever and ever ruling with the scepetor of righteousness. (Hebrews 1:9)
Jesus Christ then is uniquely qualified as our Lord, Judge, and Savior. For, by His obedience He has been highly exalted (Philippians 2:9-10) as Lord, by His temptations He is able to understand our trials and Judge us justly, and by His death and resurrection He has saved us.
Hebrews 2:9-10
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice, able to bring all who obey Him to glory.
No other man was able to save himself, or others. So the Son of God humbled himself as a man to taste death for all men.
Hebrews 2:14
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil
What a marvelous and humiliating realization this should be for us. God the Father so loved man the He was willing to sacrifice His only Son so that man, with all his weaknesses, might be healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
Man, by himself, could not save himself, and yet, through the sacrifice of a Man (the Son of God humbling himself in obedience as a man), God implemented a process whereby we might be adopted as fellow heirs of God with Christ. (Romans 8:12-17)
Therefore, speaking of those who would take up their cross and follow Christ, Hebrews 2:11 tells us,
For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
We are brothers with Christ and fellow heirs of the kingdom, if we live according to His commandments.
And we can know that these commandments are fair, just, and right, for they come from the Word (John 1:1), who was tempted like we are, felt pain like we do, and tasted death so that we might avoid it.
He understands our troubles. We are told in Hebrews 4:15, that our High Priest can sympathize with us. Not that He excuses our sins, but rather that He is able to provide us the strength we need to overcome our sins.
Hebrews 2:17-18
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
God be praised for such a Savior!
