Last night as we were snuggled on a couch watching a movie, my husband, Steve, told me about a friend who had a mountain lion come up on his deck. I got to be honest, that would freak me out! Steve, however, a lover of wildlife encounters, thought it was pretty wonderful. That conversation got me thinking about Jesus as the Lion of Judah.
When we think of Jesus, we often think of Him as a Lamb: meek and mild. Certainly, He was the Lamb that was slain. But the Apostle John wrote, “See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5). As I have been mulling that over in my mind in the early morning hours, I’ve been worshipping Jesus not only as the Lamb who was slain but as the great and powerful Lion of Judah!
As you think about Jesus as the Lion of Judah, I wonder what comes to your mind?
What does the title The Lion of Judah mean for you?
It Speaks of His Kingly Authority. Lions are scary and fierce. They are powerful and known as the King of the Jungle. I’m reminded of the Chronicles of Narnia where C. S. Lewis writes about a conversation between Mr. Beaver and Susan. Mr. Beaver tells Susan, “Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh,” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver, “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”[1]
Jesus came not just to save you from hell; He came to be your king. In our Christian walk, particularly here in the Western world, we want safe, don’t we? We want a faith that does not challenge our lifestyle, our purse strings, or our comfort. Yet, the Lion of Judah, who is our king, calls us away from comfort, safety, and stability. He calls us to the adventure of living out our faith in a tangible way before the world. And He promises that in our journey there will be suffering and sorrow. Ouch! Who wants suffering and sorrow? Right?! Yet, Jesus consistently calls us to lay our life down in favor of His life (Galatians 2:20). As the Lion of Judah, Jesus reminds us that our life is not our own – we have been bought with a price (I Corinthians 6:20).
It Speaks to His Desire for Praise. The name “Judah” means “praise.”[2] In the title Lion of Judah we are reminded that Jesus desires and deserves all our praise. Why does He call us to praise Him? Is He some insecure being who needs an “atta boy” every now and then? No! Jesus invites us to praise Him because as we praise and worship Him, we are changed. We become like what we worship (Psalm 115:8).
Our primary calling as followers of Christ is to worship and praise Him. Every other calling is secondary. This advent season, may I challenge you? Set aside at least 20 minutes each day to simply worship the Lord Jesus Christ!
It Speaks to His Ultimate Victory Over Evil. At times it may feel like evil is winning. But friend, evil is not winning. Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain and the Lion of Judah, is victorious. You can stand in that victory. It has already been won! When you feel discouraged or defeated, remind yourself that the Lion of Judah is your victory.
Friend, may I encourage you? You have the Lion of Judah as your king. He is the only one worthy of all your praise and He is victorious. Take heart! You win because He wins!
Don’t Forget!
It’s not too late to order a copy of Psalms for the Anxious Heart for a friend for Christmas.
And if you’re looking to improve your relationship with your kids, pre-order How to Listen So Your Kids Will Talk. Learn how to make small changes that will improve your relationship immediately!
[1] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/344456-aslan-is-a-lion–the-lion-the-great-lion-ooh
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah_(son_of_Jacob)
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