Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?
Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."
Genesis 49:9-10, Amos 3:8, Revelation 5:4-5
The lion is a glorious animal, boasted as the king of the jungle, strong and mighty, a symbol throughout history and folklore of power, courage and nobility. There is something uniquely intriguing about the king of the jungle. A vision of the tawny-toned creature with its magnificent mane, whether sprawling in splendor or stalking in arrogance, can't help but elicit a sense of fear and wonder. Families and nations alike have identified with the beautiful beast, inscribing its likeness on crests and coats of arms and national flags.
In the beloved apostle John's unimaginable vision of eternity some two thousand years ago, his eyes were drawn at one point to a throne. There God almighty held a scroll that could set in motion the judgments necessary for the culmination of human history and the commencement of the new heaven and earth. John passionately yearned to see the book opened, to discover the secret treasures hidden in its words. When there seemed to be no one worthy to unseal the book, John began to weep. And as he did, a loud voice pierced the air, crying out: Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals (Revelation 5:5).
The momentous symbolism behind this lone Biblical reference to Jesus as a Lion harks back to the time when Jacob, father of the nation of Israel, called his sons together on his deathbed to bless each one with a prophecy concerning their future. As he came to Judah, he likened him to a young lion that would one day overpower his enemies, earning the adulation and allegiance of all his brothers. Hundreds of years later the prophecy was gloriously fulfilled as the tribe of Judah stormed into battle carrying a banner etched with the likeness of a lion, to secure the area in the promised land for all the other tribes.
When a lion roars in the jungle, he can sometimes be heard up to five miles in every direction as he marks out territory upon which no other beast dare encroach. As a descendent from the tribe of Judah, Jesus went like a Lion to the Cross, marking out for Himself the territory of our souls. It is finished! He roared, discharging a war cry that reverberated through the canyons of eternity, shattering enemy strongholds and establishing once for all the victory of redemption. He has risen! The disciples proclaimed, and the echo of that sound fills the hearts of rescued men, reminding us that the land is ours, never again to be taken by enemy forces.
One day the scroll John wept over will surely be unsealed and with it the promise that God's judgments are sure. Jesus, carrying a banner of war, will defend the honor of His name by destroying all that falls short of His glory. Until that remarkable day we live in victory, relishing the joy of overcoming grace. We tremble in His presence, thankful that we who through fear of death were subject to slavery all our lives, have seen the evil one rendered powerless by the prowess of our indomitable Leader (Hebrews 2:15).
The Lion from the tribe of Judah has roared! Bring on the victory dance, clang the resounding cymbals, death is defeated and God's marvelous reign is established in our hearts. The kingdom has come! His will has been done! Fear no more, for the Lion is worthy to open the scroll! Glorify His name!
The end-time judgments against evil are sealed in God's hands and can be set into motion only because of Christ's victory over darkness through His death and resurrection. In what ways might the reality that God's judgments are sure, offer comfort to you in your daily life?
Jesus is a Lion, a warrior who faces for us every skirmish against sin, for He has already won the war and desires to daily empower us with greater freedom in His kingdom. As you look at the day before you, consider all its parts in light of this truth. Thank Him aloud for each situation in which He will demonstrate His power for victories already won.
Jesus, in dying on the cross engaged in a bloody battle for the territory of your heart.
The LION and the LAMB
In his death on the cross, Jesus Christ Fulfilled all the picture of redemption of the Lamb who was in the mind of God, for then and there he became the lamb slain, the token and seal of God's salvation promises to man, as well as the covenant, victim and the memorial meal of that covenant.
In Revelation 5 there is a scene in heaven, before the throne of Almighty God. A scroll which is sealed cannot be opened by any man or angel or any other creature. Seeing this in vision, John weeps because there could be found no one to open the great scroll. However, he is reassured: “The Lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll” (Rev. 5:5).
Now comes one of those little twists that wonderfully characterize the Bible. The great conquering Lion of Judah now comes forward to open the scroll. But he doesn’t appear as a “lion” -- John sees him as “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain” (v. 6). And we are reminded that it was as the lamb to slaughter led, bruised, suffering, dying, and finally dead, that Jesus became the great conqueror! He stooped to conquer. He humbled himself to be exalted. He emptied himself before he could be filled. He knelt to wash the disciples’ feet before he sat as host at the table. He wore without complaint the crown of thorns before he ever thought to wear the crown of gold. He laid down his life, in abject and total self-denial, before he ever donned the mantle of victor, lord and king.
The secret strength of the Lion is, ever and always, that he is first and foremost the Lamb of God.
