And I wept much because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Rev. 5:4.
We are often reluctant to identify with the positive characters in the Bible, assuming that people such as John were on a far higher spiritual level than we are. Yet the Bible invites us to model our lives on the characters in it (1 Cor. 4:6, 7, 16; 11:1; 1 Thess. 1:6, 7). Although Jesus is the primary one to emulate (2 Cor. 3:17, 18; 1 Cor. 4:17), we can gain a great deal from the positive and negative examples we find in the stories about various Bible characters.
In this and other verses John becomes part of his own vision. And it is encouraging to realize that the prophet portrays himself not as a great saint, but as one who makes mistakes and is even a bit clueless at times. In Revelation 5:4 he weeps because he has no idea what is going on in heaven. He sees but doesn't understand. An elder asks him a question in Revelation 7:13, 14, and he has no idea how to answer it. Then in Revelation 19:9, 10, and 22:8, 9, he falls down to worship an angel, only to get rebuked for it. Now, to do this once might be understandable. But to do it a second time a short while later really looks foolish! Apparently prophets are not automatically smart in all areas.
I can be pretty clueless at times myself. I remember when I was in high school a college choir came by, directed by a Ph.D. in music. Not impressed with the choir, I figured the conductor must be no good, despite her high degree. So when I joined my friends at the water cooler after the performance, I began to expound about how Ph.Ds. are usually less competent than people with lesser degrees because they get out of touch with real life, etc. Quickly I got on a roll about how bad this conductor was. In the middle of my monologue I turned around, only to discover her standing behind me, taking in every word. I have rarely felt so dumb!
The good news is that readers like me can identify with John and other biblical characters in their weakness. Elijah was easily discouraged and depressed, yet at God's command he could make it stop raining. David murdered at least 200 innocent people in his lifetime, yet the Lord found a way to forgive him. John the Baptist questioned whether Jesus was really the Messiah, yet Jesus called him the greatest of the prophets (Matt. 11:1-13)! Job and Jerimiah were "saints" who wished they had never been born (Job 3:3; Jer. 20:14, 15). "It is encouraging to our desponding hearts to know that through God's grace they could gain fresh vigor to again rise above their evil natures; and, remembering this, we are ready to renew the conflict ourselves."
Lord, I was feeling down, but now I am encouraged to rise up and try again!
We are often reluctant to identify with the positive characters in the Bible, assuming that people such as John were on a far higher spiritual level than we are. Yet the Bible invites us to model our lives on the characters in it (1 Cor. 4:6, 7, 16; 11:1; 1 Thess. 1:6, 7). Although Jesus is the primary one to emulate (2 Cor. 3:17, 18; 1 Cor. 4:17), we can gain a great deal from the positive and negative examples we find in the stories about various Bible characters.
In this and other verses John becomes part of his own vision. And it is encouraging to realize that the prophet portrays himself not as a great saint, but as one who makes mistakes and is even a bit clueless at times. In Revelation 5:4 he weeps because he has no idea what is going on in heaven. He sees but doesn't understand. An elder asks him a question in Revelation 7:13, 14, and he has no idea how to answer it. Then in Revelation 19:9, 10, and 22:8, 9, he falls down to worship an angel, only to get rebuked for it. Now, to do this once might be understandable. But to do it a second time a short while later really looks foolish! Apparently prophets are not automatically smart in all areas.
I can be pretty clueless at times myself. I remember when I was in high school a college choir came by, directed by a Ph.D. in music. Not impressed with the choir, I figured the conductor must be no good, despite her high degree. So when I joined my friends at the water cooler after the performance, I began to expound about how Ph.Ds. are usually less competent than people with lesser degrees because they get out of touch with real life, etc. Quickly I got on a roll about how bad this conductor was. In the middle of my monologue I turned around, only to discover her standing behind me, taking in every word. I have rarely felt so dumb!
The good news is that readers like me can identify with John and other biblical characters in their weakness. Elijah was easily discouraged and depressed, yet at God's command he could make it stop raining. David murdered at least 200 innocent people in his lifetime, yet the Lord found a way to forgive him. John the Baptist questioned whether Jesus was really the Messiah, yet Jesus called him the greatest of the prophets (Matt. 11:1-13)! Job and Jerimiah were "saints" who wished they had never been born (Job 3:3; Jer. 20:14, 15). "It is encouraging to our desponding hearts to know that through God's grace they could gain fresh vigor to again rise above their evil natures; and, remembering this, we are ready to renew the conflict ourselves."
Lord, I was feeling down, but now I am encouraged to rise up and try again!
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