And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10 NIV)
Today is the day that we remember the crucifixion of Jesus. The Son of God, our creator, was hung on a Roman cross and gave up his life for me. This day has come to be known as Good Friday. For many years that name puzzled me. Because this was a tragic day. So why should it be called good? When it happened, the only people who would have thought of it as good were Jesus’ enemies. Indeed it was a dark day in history when the light of the world was extinguished. But it was also a momentous day. And this passage expresses the immense significance of that day.
In this fifth chapter of Revelation, the scene starts with God holding a scroll in his hand, looking for someone worthy to open it. But no one was found worthy until the Lion of the tribe of Judah triumphed, a lion pictured as a slain lamb. And those surrounding the throne of God then sang this song. A song that declared that the Lamb was worthy. He was worthy because he had been slain and purchased persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation by his blood.
Good Friday
Today is called Good Friday because, on it, we remember that Jesus purchased us with his blood and brought us into his kingdom. While it was a dark day in human history, it is a day to look back on with rejoicing. A day to join with that heavenly choir in singing the praises of our Lord.
