God’s Very Good Idea and the God-Man At Its Center
The three points from the previous step demonstrate why we need and want God’s Kingdom. From before the beginning, this has been "God’s very good idea."¹ (1) God’s blood-bought, multi-ethnic people in (2) God’s new creation place with (3) Jesus as God’s king. Some theologians refer to the making of this goal as the covenant of redemption. This term refers to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit agreeing to set and secure this kingdom goal before creating the world. The Triune God has set a wondrously generous goal for us at the end of his story. But think about this kingdom goal: God's people, in God's place, with God himself as their king. How could the Triune God bring this goal about? How could God truly dwell among us?
Jesus alone is fully God and fully man. In him, God himself joins us in our humanity. Indeed, he forges a new humanity out of the shattered and divided ruins of Adam—a new, blood-bought humanity from every tribe, people, and nation that is united in Christ, sharing together in his one, resurrection life (Col 3:4,10). In Christ, God truly dwells among us, and we can know his glory. The Bible identifies Jesus as the only one who can bring about God’s Kingdom because Christ alone is Lord and Messiah, God the Son Incarnate. Let's take some time to consider just one place that the Bible joins God's kingdom goal to the unique identity of Jesus Christ as God the Son Incarnate: Revelation 5. 1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 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.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
11 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. 12 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!”
13 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!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
—Revelation 5:1-14
The sealed scroll in Revelation 5:1 represents the coming of God’s promised, new creation kingdom. John weeps because no creature, neither a man upon the earth nor an angel in heaven, can bring about God’s kingdom. This means that there would be no one to right the wrongs of this world. It means that justice would never overcome injustice. It means that light would not dispel the darkness. It means that the dark night of this world would never give way to the morning. Ultimately, it means that God's long-awaited kingdom would not come; that all of his good promises for his people could not come to pass. That is why John weeps. But as we continue on to verse 5, we read:
Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.
Oh joy! In these verses, we read that the Lamb has conquered!
But notice how the coming of God’s Kingdom depends on the unique identity and exclusive work of Jesus. In v.5, we read that he is the Messiah: “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.” But in v.6, we read that he is the Lord, standing in the middle of the throne of God himself. This hero is both God and man. In v.5, we read that Jesus is a conquering Lion. In v.6, we learn that he conquered as a slain lamb who “purchased a people for God with his own blood.” Jesus is the one who is both Israel's Lord and Messiah. Jesus is the one who died for the sins of his people. So, only Jesus can bring about God's kingdom and fulfill each one of his good promises to his people. Jesus alone meets our need.
How should we respond to this stunning and glorious reality? We find the answer in v.13:
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!”
All creation, from the four living creatures before the throne to the smallest creature of the earth, worships Jesus. Here we see joy, wonder, worship, and love. This is the joy of God’s kingdom of life and love and laughter, the joy that only Jesus can bring because only Jesus is God the Son Incarnate. All creation worships Jesus as they worship the Father.
Let's join in this joyous worship by listening to "Ride on King Jesus", sung by Raymond Myles with the Rams.
What does Revelation 5 reveal about Jesus? Why is he alone worthy to take the scroll and open its seals?
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Write a song, prayer, or paragraph to worship Jesus. Base your work on Revelation 5 after rereading these verses several times.
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How does the truth that only Jesus can bring God's kingdom strengthen and encourage you? How does it challenge and confront you?
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Summary
God’s kingdom is the goal of the Bible, and Jesus is the only one who can bring about God’s Kingdom. Why? Because he is our perfect Messiah and Lord, God the Son Incarnate. The Bible demands that we worship Jesus as the God-Man. His unique identity and work are the only way that God's promised kingdom can come. But the question remains: “How does God’s Kingdom come? How does Jesus bring it about? What is it about Jesus’s exclusive identity and unique work that make him the only one who can bring about the kingdom?” The answer to these questions has to do with the biblical covenants. That is where we turn our attention to now.