“Worthy of Worship”

(Rev 5:11-14; Jn 21:1-14)

Easter 3, Sun, May 4, 2025, FBC Amherst, JG White

 Do you like new music? “Sing to the LORD a new song!” So says at least five of the Psalms, as well as other scripture lyrics, including Revelation 5. The Choir just sang a new song, for us at least. And I find it quite moving, because part of it is not new at all. You don’t have it, but we in the Choir have a note at the bottom of our music that tells what we chanted.  The text is an actual Passover blessing that has been recited for thirty-five centuries in the Passover celebration. This is a direct translation of what Jesus would have said at the Last Supper when He blessed the bread and broke it.

“Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who bringest forth bread from the earth.” “Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.”

Our relationship with God, with Christ, with the Spirit, is kept vibrant by our worship together. I’ve added a few music videos to our service today to celebrate some of the words of worship in the book of Revelation. And they all get sung. In ancient Judaism, in the First Testament, we see worship is so often about sacrificing of animals, or building a pile of stones out in the wilderness as an altar. By the time we Christians read through to the Revelation of John, there is so much singing of praise to God, together. 

One of the things the book of Revelation does is inspire us to worship together. Scholar Michael Gorman reminds us this book is

• a call to prayer
• a call to contemplation
• a call to join the heavenly worship
• a call to enter the story of a God with a mission

A little earlier we heard the familiar “Hallelujah Chorus.” All the words are from Revelation, chapters 11 and 19. I find these lyrics come alive today as much as they did in the year 90, when this text was first sent to seven little congregations, struggling to live in the Roman Empire. Mitchell Reddish suggests, “John rightly understood that worship is a political act. Through worship one declares one’s allegiance, one’s loyalty to no other gods.” Including emperors, queens, presidents, prime ministers, dictators, and so forth. When a choir sings the Hallelujah Chorus, in 2025, do we aspire to know that 

The kingdom of this word is become 

the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and of his Christ!

And he shall reign forever and ever.

I think Revelation 11:15 is the theme verse of the book.

Let’s hear a new song. Well, newer than the 1742 Hallelujah Chorus. This could be new to you, though you may have heard my friend Sarah sing this at my Induction Service here 2 ½ years ago. Many of these words are directly from Revelation 4 & 5, and so on.  

‘Revelation Song’ - sung by Guy Penrod

To join the worship of these Bible words is to get a bit more in touch with the ways Jesus wins by getting killed. How Christ is worthy of worship by us - we declare Jesus worth honouring and bowing to. He sits on heaven’s mercy seat - an image from the Hebrew tabernacle and Temple that expresses forgiveness & healing of humans: in all our pain, hurt, trauma, wrongdoing, and trouble.  Christ is past, present and future - not just a great Man from the past. And He came into Creation for all creation, including you and me. 

Contemporary Christian Music, with the rock band instruments, lead singer and backup singers all microphoned, is sometimes criticized as too much ‘love songs to Jesus.’ I find songs like this one, with texts direct from scripture, authentic & heart-wrenching.

Let me show one more music video, an even newer bit of Contemporary Christian music, though here in a scene from a big choir festival, I think, with the key songwriter at the piano, singing. Again, we hear a lot of quotations from Revelation. It is the question and answers here that get me. Do I feel the world is broken? I do. Do I feel the shadows deepen? I do! But do I know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through? In 2025? I do, O Lord, I believe - but help my unbelief. 

You can follow along with the words on page 6. 

‘Is He Worthy’ - sung by Andrew Peterson 

I love this song, but I know that this requires that I know something about the seven seals of a scroll to be opened, in Revelation chapter 5. Jesus the Christ is worthy and whole, the One in John’s visions who can unfold the fixing of everything that is wrong in the universe. And so on.

Does the Father truly love us?  (He does)

Does the Spirit move among us?  (He does)

And does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loves? (He does)

Does our God intend to dwell again with us?  (He does)

From every people and tribe   Every nation and tongue

He has made us a kingdom and priests to God  

To reign with the Son

The Revelation calls us to worship, to worship the One who is worthy. Instead of many other options for our supreme attention. 

In the end, we sit down to share, as Jesus invites us, a simple meal. Fellowship at His table. A worship moment that touches our whole life. Here we touch forgiveness and healing. Here we touch welcome and fellowship with God. Here we touch one another. Here we touch the whole world.  Come to the Table.