(4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. (5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
The exercises of John are sweetly recorded, for the instruction of the Church. He was called up to heaven, But after a short space he is made to weep, yea, to weep much. Thus we see, that even visions of heaven when opened, are not immediate happiness. Sorrow is often before joy. Reader! recollect that this was but a vision. The redeemed when in reality they enter heaven, will weep no more, Revelation 7:16-17. But in fact, John's mind was thus kept in suspense, for the greater glory which was to follow. Jesus himself was in the moment near at hand, yea, Jesus was soon after to come forward to John's view, and take the book and open the seals in his sight, but to heighten both Christ's glory, and John's joy; the Apostle shall first be exercised with seeming difficulties. It is so for the most part in the path of the Lord's people. Their Way to heaven lies through the valley of Baca. They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.
The comfort and encouragement, given by one of the Elders to John, is very interesting. He not only tells him to dry up his tears, for there was one found worthy to accomplish all his wishes, but he points Out his Person, and by the well known name of Judah or Jehudah, from whom Christ, after the flesh, sprang, the identity of his Person was defined, Genesis 49:10. I pray the Reader to pause here, in order to mark the special grace of God. It was With John, as it is often with the Church. When visions of God begin, then come exercises. And when exercises abound, God's consolations abound. All the difficulty thrown in the way of John, was only to heighten Christ's glory to the Apostle's view, and to increase the Apostle's joy and confidence in Christ. And what it was with John, so is it with all the Lord's people. When none can be found worthy in heaven, or in earth, to deliver the soul; oh! how blessed then is Christ.