The Lion of Judah.
We first hear this term in the book of Revelation, chapter 5. The setting is Heaven, and John, the author of the book (See Revelation 1:1-2), has just finished describing 24 elders and four beasts surrounding the throne of God when his attention is drawn to a scroll in the right hand of God, a scroll that cannot be opened: “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.” (vs. 1-3 NKJV). This is upsetting to John (See Rev. 5:4), but as he begins to weep, one of the 24 elders speaks forth: “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals” (Rev. 5:5 NKJV)
The Lion of Judah. The One who has prevailed.
Just who is this “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” this “root of David”, and what does this mean to us today?
Revelation 22:16 tells us it is none other than Jesus Christ Himself: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16 NKJV)
But why would Jesus be called “the Lion of Judah”?
The term actually relates back to the book of Genesis. Jacob, on his deathbed, calls each of his sons to his side and gives them a prophetic blessing (See Gen. 49,50). One of the longest orations was given to his son Judah, and the reference to the “lion” is found in this blessing: “You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness–who dares to rouse him?” (Gen. 49:9 NIV). Thus, Judah is referred to as a young lion returning from devouring its prey.
How is Jesus the fulfillment of this prophecy?
Let’s remember that Revelation 5 tells us the reason this “Lion of Judah” is worthy to open the scrolls is because He has “prevailed“: “For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the Earth.” (Rev. 5:9-10 NKJV)
Perhaps to fully understand the imagery, we must start at the beginning of the story. God, in the garden of Eden just after the fall of mankind, says to the serpent: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Gen. 3:15, NIV). We see this prophecy being fulfilled by Jesus, the perfect offspring of the woman, through His death on the cross: “he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil…” (Heb. 2:14 NIV). Through His death and resurrection, He has “…canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col. 2:14-15 NIV).
Thus, with Jesus’ death on the cross, Satan was disarmed and defeated forever. His accusation before God that we are all guilty and should die with him was nullified by Jesus, and Satan can no longer separate us from the love of God in Christ: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:37-39 NIV).
As Jesus triumphs over the lies and deceptions, we see Him prevailing over His prey and returning in triumph: “You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness–who dares to rouse him?” (Gen. 49:7 NIV).
Jesus. The Lion of Judah, the Lamb that was slain, the One who has prevailed, the One who has redeemed us to God by His blood (See Rev. 5:9-10).
With the Passover week, the week marking the advent of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (April 10-18 this year) nearly upon us, the hearts of all Christians are drawn to the this greatest of events, the celebration of “the Lion of Judah”, who in His death and resurrection “has prevailed”, who has, by allowing His innocent blood to be spilled, “redeemed us to God”. Isn’t it fitting that we take the time and effort to contemplate this “Lion of Judah”? That we thank Him for redeeming us, for calling us out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation? For making us kings and priests to our God? For the promise of “reigning” over the Earth? (See Rev. 5:9-10)
But how can we possibly give adequate thanks for what Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain, has done for each of us?
Join us on Thursday, for “The Lion of Judah”, Part 2.
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.
(To access the entire “Lion of Judah” mini-series, please click here.)