Why did the elder tell John to stop weeping in Revelation 5?
The elder told John to stop weeping because the Lion of the tribe of Judah—Christ, who came out of Judah—was worthy to open the scroll and pay off its mortgage. John had wept since no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth was found worthy to open and read it.
Les explains that John wept much because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or even to look thereon. A strong angel had proclaimed, “Who is worthy to open the book or scroll, and to loose the seals thereof?” But no man in heaven, not even the angels, nor in earth, nor under the earth, had the authority or capability to open this mortgage. Then one of the elders says, “Weep not, behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” Les points out that “Lion” is capitalized, and Christ came out of Judah. Jesus the Christ, already in heaven, comes before the throne of the Father, and He is the only one with authority to open this mortgage and say, “I’ll pay it off.” Les also connects this to Jewish history and custom, especially the book of Ruth, where a mortgaged inheritance had to be redeemed by a next of kin.
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.