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The Apostle John was given a vision of heaven in which he saw things that would come to pass in the future. Part of this vision tells us that Jesus has won the victory over death and sin and has legal rights to reign as the King of Kings.

In the right hand of the one sitting on the throne I saw a scroll that had writing on the inside and on the outside. And it was sealed in seven places. 2 I saw a mighty angel ask with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or see inside it.

4 I cried hard because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or see inside it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying and look! The one who is called both the ‘Lion from the Tribe of Judah’ and ‘King David’s Great Descendant’ has won the victory. He will open the book and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:1–5 (CEV)

To understand what’s happening in this scripture, we need to understand the Hebrew system of land ownership. If a man had to sell his land because he became poor, he could be redeemed by a kinsman. A kinsman-redeemer is a blood relative with the honor or responsibility to act when a relative is in trouble. They are the only person who can save the person who is about to lose everything.

All creation is under the bondage of sin, Satan, and even death. In this scripture, we see Jesus as the Kinsman-Redeemer who will free creation. Christ is the only one worthy to redeem that which was lost.

No person on earth, in heaven, or hell could take the scroll John was seeing. This is why he was crying. He wanted to see the bondage broken, he wanted the promises of a Messiah to be fulfilled, and he knew that would never happen unless this scroll was opened. Imagine what it must have been like for the angel to wipe John’s tears and point to Jesus, the Lion from Judah, the King who had won the victory!

Jesus is the only worthy to open the scroll because He overcame death. He’s alive! Christ is the redeemer!
24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

Jesus is worthy. He paid the price. When we are at our lowest and feel there is no hope, we need to remember that Jesus is worthy. He has come to our rescue and set us free from our past, sin, and failures. The enemy has no control over our lives anymore because even if we struggle or face hardships, we know that Jesus is on the throne, and one day we still stand blameless in His presence. As we seek Him, we trust He is worthy to save us.