Worthy is the Lamb, 26 April 2026
26 04 26 Filed in: Sermons | Handel's Messiah
Worthy is the Lamb that Was Slain
Handel’s Messiah
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
April 26, 2026
Revelation 5:9-14
Series Big Idea: Handel’s Messiah may be the greatest work of music ever created, bringing praise and glory to the Creator.
Big Idea: Jesus the Messiah, the Lamb that was slain for us, is worthy of our eternal worship, praise, and devotion.
Know: Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
Feel: Deeper love for Jesus and his love for us.
Do: Worship God in Spirit and in truth with passion and joy.
Today’s the day we finish our series on arguably the greatest music ever written, Handel’s Messiah. That’s worthy of a “hallelujah!”
Hallelujah!
Speaking of “worthy,” our theme, taken from the song of the same name, is “Worthy is the Lamb that Was Slain,” taken from our text in Revelation 5:9-14. The Messiah is, indeed, worthy.
As many of you know, I collect baseball cards. One day when I was a boy, my mom was alarmed when I told her I spent what was probably $10 on a card. “You paid $10 for a piece of paper?”
“Mom, a $10 bill is a piece of paper!”
I assured her I had a buyer for the card and, sure enough, I came home the next day with $15 or $20. She was quick to support my baseball card hobby from that day forward!
The key in trading cards or any collectible is defining worth. Value. An item or service is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Nothing more, nothing less.
Our English word “worth” is the root of “worthy” which means “having worth” or “deserving honor, value, or recognition.” It’s also the root of worship.
An award winner may feel worthy or unworthy about receiving an award, for example. Some of you may remember the goofy scene in the movie “Wayne’s World” where the characters respond to rock star Alice Cooper by saying, “We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!”
As a final illustration, imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where people feel unworthy of a title or role, fearing they may be exposed as a “fraud.”
Today we’re looking at the book of Revelation. I need to preface it with a few notes. First, the Bible is not a book, but rather a library of 66 books. They are written by dozens of authors over the course of hundreds of years and have a diversity of literary genres. You don’t read a book of history in the same way you do a biography. There’s a difference between poetry and commands. The most fascinating biblical genre is apocalyptic literature.
Apocalypse means to uncover or reveal, to see the true nature of something you didn’t see before. In the Bible, it’s when God reveals something to us.
I want to recommend this Bible Project video on apocalyptic literature:
https://bibleproject.com/videos/apocalyptic-literature/
The most famous piece of apocalyptic literature is found in the book of Revelation. It seems everyone is curious about Revelation. Are we living in the end times? Is so-and-so the anti-Christ? When will Jesus return? What do these strange verses mean?
Although much of Revelation is challenging and controversial, today’s text is rather clear. In chapter five, there is a wonderful scene that is a preview of what is to come. It continues the throne-room vision found in chapter 4.
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. (Revelation 5:1, NLT)
This two-sided scroll reveals God’s plan for history. The seals made the contents inaccessible, with seven being the number of completion.
And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. (Revelation 5:2-3, NLT)
That’s disappointing! If angels weren’t worthy, sinful humans aren’t. Jesus’ friend John continues…
Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:4-5, NLT)
Jesus is the Lion of Judah, the victorious one, the King, the one who conquered sin and death on the cross. But he didn’t stay there. He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. (Revelation 5:6, NLT)
Now Jesus is depicted as a lamb, a symbol of innocence and simplicity, atonement for sin. Fortunately for us, the horns and eyes are identified. This is symbolic language, obviously.
He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. (Revelation 5:7-8, NLT)
Here, gold bowls filled with incense are the prayers of God’s people. Did you know that about your prayers?
The purpose of Revelation—and all of the Bible—is to bring comfort and help us prepare for the future. Get ready! These things will happen someday. We don’t know when. It could be today. It could be 1000 years from now. But get ready…and now we’re ready for our text for today from Handel’s Messiah.
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. (Revelation 5:9, NIV)
Jesus is worthy. He’s worth it. He deserves the opportunity to read the scroll because of what he did on the cross for us…all of us…people from every tribe, language, people, and nation. This is one reason why racism is such an evil. Jesus died for Iranians, Israelis, and Indians. He died for Haitians and Hawaiians, Africans and Afghanis, Democrats and Republicans.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10, NIV)
This is what we will do someday…reign on the earth. The new earth. We’re not going up to heaven. Jesus is coming down to earth. There will be new heavens and a new earth.
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. (Revelation 5:11, NIV)
Can you imagine? What a sight! What a sound!
In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12, NIV)
Singing angels! Wow!
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13, NIV)
Don’t miss this: it says every creature, the living and the dead. This isn’t just an announcement from an angel. These aren’t words spoken by a group of saints. It says every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea. Does that mean fish and birds and giraffes and puppy dogs will declare this?
So What?
There may be many things we don’t understand about Revelation, but the Lamb that was Slain is certainly Jesus the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, who came, lived, died, and rose again. He is worthy—worth—all power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:14, NIV)
That’s the natural response to an encounter with God…humility and worship. He’s worthy of our worship. He is worth it! He’s worth more than any baseball card, diamond, or castle. That’s one reason we gather each week…to be reminded He’s God and we’re not and He deserves our worship, our allegiance, our time, our talents, and our treasures. He is in control, we’re not. He is LORD.
Do you want to know when all this will happen? I don’t know, but we’re done day closer to it today than yesterday…and it will be amazing!
Amen. Yes, LORD. Let it be!
Jesus the Messiah, the Lamb that was slain for us, is worthy of our eternal worship, praise, and devotion. Hallelujah!
Handel’s Messiah
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
April 26, 2026
Revelation 5:9-14
Series Big Idea: Handel’s Messiah may be the greatest work of music ever created, bringing praise and glory to the Creator.
Big Idea: Jesus the Messiah, the Lamb that was slain for us, is worthy of our eternal worship, praise, and devotion.
Know: Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
Feel: Deeper love for Jesus and his love for us.
Do: Worship God in Spirit and in truth with passion and joy.
Today’s the day we finish our series on arguably the greatest music ever written, Handel’s Messiah. That’s worthy of a “hallelujah!”
Hallelujah!
Speaking of “worthy,” our theme, taken from the song of the same name, is “Worthy is the Lamb that Was Slain,” taken from our text in Revelation 5:9-14. The Messiah is, indeed, worthy.
As many of you know, I collect baseball cards. One day when I was a boy, my mom was alarmed when I told her I spent what was probably $10 on a card. “You paid $10 for a piece of paper?”
“Mom, a $10 bill is a piece of paper!”
I assured her I had a buyer for the card and, sure enough, I came home the next day with $15 or $20. She was quick to support my baseball card hobby from that day forward!
The key in trading cards or any collectible is defining worth. Value. An item or service is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Nothing more, nothing less.
Our English word “worth” is the root of “worthy” which means “having worth” or “deserving honor, value, or recognition.” It’s also the root of worship.
An award winner may feel worthy or unworthy about receiving an award, for example. Some of you may remember the goofy scene in the movie “Wayne’s World” where the characters respond to rock star Alice Cooper by saying, “We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!”
As a final illustration, imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where people feel unworthy of a title or role, fearing they may be exposed as a “fraud.”
Today we’re looking at the book of Revelation. I need to preface it with a few notes. First, the Bible is not a book, but rather a library of 66 books. They are written by dozens of authors over the course of hundreds of years and have a diversity of literary genres. You don’t read a book of history in the same way you do a biography. There’s a difference between poetry and commands. The most fascinating biblical genre is apocalyptic literature.
Apocalypse means to uncover or reveal, to see the true nature of something you didn’t see before. In the Bible, it’s when God reveals something to us.
I want to recommend this Bible Project video on apocalyptic literature:
https://bibleproject.com/videos/apocalyptic-literature/
The most famous piece of apocalyptic literature is found in the book of Revelation. It seems everyone is curious about Revelation. Are we living in the end times? Is so-and-so the anti-Christ? When will Jesus return? What do these strange verses mean?
Although much of Revelation is challenging and controversial, today’s text is rather clear. In chapter five, there is a wonderful scene that is a preview of what is to come. It continues the throne-room vision found in chapter 4.
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. (Revelation 5:1, NLT)
This two-sided scroll reveals God’s plan for history. The seals made the contents inaccessible, with seven being the number of completion.
And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. (Revelation 5:2-3, NLT)
That’s disappointing! If angels weren’t worthy, sinful humans aren’t. Jesus’ friend John continues…
Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:4-5, NLT)
Jesus is the Lion of Judah, the victorious one, the King, the one who conquered sin and death on the cross. But he didn’t stay there. He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. (Revelation 5:6, NLT)
Now Jesus is depicted as a lamb, a symbol of innocence and simplicity, atonement for sin. Fortunately for us, the horns and eyes are identified. This is symbolic language, obviously.
He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. (Revelation 5:7-8, NLT)
Here, gold bowls filled with incense are the prayers of God’s people. Did you know that about your prayers?
The purpose of Revelation—and all of the Bible—is to bring comfort and help us prepare for the future. Get ready! These things will happen someday. We don’t know when. It could be today. It could be 1000 years from now. But get ready…and now we’re ready for our text for today from Handel’s Messiah.
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. (Revelation 5:9, NIV)
Jesus is worthy. He’s worth it. He deserves the opportunity to read the scroll because of what he did on the cross for us…all of us…people from every tribe, language, people, and nation. This is one reason why racism is such an evil. Jesus died for Iranians, Israelis, and Indians. He died for Haitians and Hawaiians, Africans and Afghanis, Democrats and Republicans.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10, NIV)
This is what we will do someday…reign on the earth. The new earth. We’re not going up to heaven. Jesus is coming down to earth. There will be new heavens and a new earth.
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. (Revelation 5:11, NIV)
Can you imagine? What a sight! What a sound!
In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12, NIV)
Singing angels! Wow!
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13, NIV)
Don’t miss this: it says every creature, the living and the dead. This isn’t just an announcement from an angel. These aren’t words spoken by a group of saints. It says every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea. Does that mean fish and birds and giraffes and puppy dogs will declare this?
So What?
There may be many things we don’t understand about Revelation, but the Lamb that was Slain is certainly Jesus the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, who came, lived, died, and rose again. He is worthy—worth—all power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:14, NIV)
That’s the natural response to an encounter with God…humility and worship. He’s worthy of our worship. He is worth it! He’s worth more than any baseball card, diamond, or castle. That’s one reason we gather each week…to be reminded He’s God and we’re not and He deserves our worship, our allegiance, our time, our talents, and our treasures. He is in control, we’re not. He is LORD.
Do you want to know when all this will happen? I don’t know, but we’re done day closer to it today than yesterday…and it will be amazing!
Amen. Yes, LORD. Let it be!
Jesus the Messiah, the Lamb that was slain for us, is worthy of our eternal worship, praise, and devotion. Hallelujah!