“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation[.]" Revelation 5:9
I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. While Holy Week and Easter have passed, I do want to read to completion John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #45: To Ransom People from Every Tribe and Language and People and Nation. Building on yesterday's devotion where Piper shared how Christ's death on the cross tore down the wall of hostility between different races and ethnicities, today's devotion emphasizes how Christ came to save people from all nations and tribes. The devotion opens by describing end times prophesied in Revelation 5. John shares how he saw a scroll sealed with seven seals - Piper describes this scroll as "signif[ying] the unfolding of world history in the future - and John weeps because he did not think there was anyone to open the scroll. John then hears a voice from a heavenly being that Jesus, who is now visible to John, because He has conquered through His death and resurrection, is able to open the scroll. The heavenly beings then worship Christ and sing a new song - Revelation 5:9 - that "announces that it is the death of Christ that makes him worthy to open the scroll of history. The implication is that Christ’s death was necessary to accomplish God’s global purposes in history....Christ died to save a great diversity of peoples. Sin is no respecter of cultures. All peoples have sinned. Every race and culture needs to be reconciled to God. As the disease of sin is global, so the remedy is global." The devotion then points to scripture that amplifies this claim - see John 12:32, Psalm 22:27, 67:4, Luke 24:6-7, and Matthew 28:19. The devotion winds down with Piper first sharing that "Jesus Christ is not a tribal deity. He does not belong to one culture or one ethnic group" - see also John 1:29 and Romans 10:12-13. The final words of the devotion then encourage non-believers to repent, be saved, and to "join the great global band of the redeemed." Amen!
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My Prayer: Father God You are an amazing God who is able to bring about peace and unity like no other - and You are able to bring about peace in my heart such that I can bring my cares and concerns to You. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me. My sin is great and it is daily. Please forgive me, and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
