“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. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation 5:11–14)

John’s vision of heaven that he attempts to describe for us leaves us with more questions than answers. For that reason, many people shy away from that last book of the Bible. Others go too far with it, trying to proclaim that it tells them when the last day will occur, even though Jesus said we could not know that day or hour.

My approach to this head-scratching book is simple. Take it for what it is. An attempt to describe something out of this world, something outside of our experience, in worldly terms. But it is also part of our loving God’s revelation of Himself to us, so we need to read it as such.

The passage above is being read in churches throughout Christendom today on this Third Sunday of Easter. John shares that in his vision, he observed angels and all other creatures in heaven and on the earth joining in a song of praise and worship to the Lamb who was slain. He’s talking about Jesus, identified by John the Baptizer as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

The song in heaven says Jesus is Worthy … to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! When you consider what He did for you and everyone else, you reach the same conclusion. He alone is worthy of praise! Knowing that He took our place in punishment, that He paid for the sins of everyone, that He conquered sin and death and the grave and gives that triumph to anyone who believes in Him, we need to declare how wonderful and awesome and amazing that is!

Praise is just that. Saying how good something is. I want to praise Jesus everyday for what He has done for me. And I’m going to a worship service with other Christians today to do just that.