“And they sang a new song, saying,
‘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,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.’”
– Revelation 5:9-10
As we near the celebration of Christmas and remember the birth of Jesus, the coming of God the Son in the flesh, we should constantly remind ourselves that Jesus didn’t remain a cuddly baby in a food trough. Jesus grew up to live a life without sin, to resist every temptation thrown at Him by Satan, to work miracles, to teach with authority, and to die on a cross and rise from death. Jesus is the Lamb Who was slain about Whom the 24 elders sing in these verses.
Through His sacrificial death and physical resurrection, Jesus ransomed a new family of people for God, setting men and women, boys and girls free from slavery to sin and death through the shedding of His innocent blood on the cross. Through faith in Jesus, God is graciously drawing people to Himself from every nation, language, ethnic group, and tribe. Jesus has ransomed a new people for God from every race, nationality, and background, all of whom are made gloriously new: washed clean, granted citizenship in God’s kingdom, raised to serve as priests to God, and prepared to reign victoriously over the earth when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.
Advent isn’t just about the run-up to Christmas. It’s a season to anticipate the glorious return of Jesus and to prepare our hearts for that as well, because He is coming and He is worthy!