LION OF JUDAH
Revelation 5:1-5
In 1930, Haile Selassie became the Emperor of Ethiopia. The Christian ruler was the 111th emperor in succession of King Solomon. Upon assuming power, Selassie sought to modernize the nation. He built schools and universities, established newspapers, expanded electricity and telephone service and increased public health services. Then in October 1935, Italian forces under orders from Benito Mussolini invaded Ethiopia. Selassie’s forces were no match for the Italian army and in May, 1936, he went into exile. He appeared for help to the League of Nations, saying, "apart from the Kingdom of the Lord there is not on this earth any nation that is superior to any other. Should it happen that a strong government finds it may, with impunity destroy a weak people, then the hour strikes for that weak people to appeal to the League of Nations to give its judgment in all freedom. God and history will remember your judgment."
The League did not help, and for the next five years Selassie remained in Britain trying to garner world support against Italy with little results.
One day, British field marshal Sir William Edmund Ironside asked Selassie what he was going to do now? Selassie, known as "The Lion of Judah" replied: "After all, there is God!" In May of 1941, Selassie’s faith in the power of God was rewarded as he re-entered Ethiopia and remained Emperor until 1974.
But I know of another, far greater "Lion of Judah." It is the One written of by John the Revelator. In Meredith’s "Book of Bible Lists," it is stated that there are 39 names attributed to Jesus, found in the New Testament. One of these is "Lion of the Tribe of Judah" (Rev 5:5).
The central figure in C.S. Lewis’ "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is Aslan the lion. He is the true ruler of the mystical land called Narnia. Who can doubt that Lewis has Christ in mind? Aslan fights the White Witch (Satan) and saves Narnia from perpetual darkness. He sacrifices his life for the people of Narnia, hence becoming, in a sense, a Lamb who takes away the curse and defeats Narnia’s ancient foe--not unlike John’s description in Revelation 5:6. In some reards, it almost appears as though Lewis sat with the New Testament open, especially the book of Revelation, as he penned this story.
Aslan, was just this wonderful, magical lion, the epitome of goodness--full of love (a type of Christ). When Susan meets Aslan, that’s when she really believes in Narnia and kind of gets a grip that things are going to be okay. Aslan really serves as a symbol of hope--especailly when he rises from the dead!
Of all the images presented in the Bible for Christ, the lion is the most magnificent. The title, "Lion of Judah" goes back to Jacob’s final blessing of his sons before his death. In that blessing he calls Judah "a lion’s whelp" (Genesis 49:9). If Judah himself is a lion’s whelp, it is fitting to call the greatest member of the tribe of of Judah "The Lion of Judah."
In the books written between the Testaments, this became a messianic title. 2 Esdras speaks of the figure of a lion and says: "This is the Annointed One, that is the Messiah" (2 Esdras 12:31). The strength of the lion and his undoubted place as king of beasts make him a fitting emblem of the all-powerful Messiah who the Jews and Christians await.
I find it extremely fascinating that this title of "lion" is also attributed to the devil as well. I Peter 5:8: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Consider the contrasting picture here. Satan looks for weak ones to devour--those weak and vunerable; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He wants to destroy their testimony, their faith, their confidence in God. The Lord Jesus, the "Lion of Judah" also looks for the weak---not to devour but to strengthen, encourage, and empower. One is roaring in intimidating fashion, while the other speaks words of peace and assurance.
Let’s move closer to this Lion whose mane flows in the wind, and whose muscles bulge with superiority. Let’s notice what it is that sets Him apart.
1. MAJESTY. This is seen in His rebuke of the wind and waves. The message is clear. Whatever strikes fear into our lives can be banished by one word from the Savior. He is majestic in His love and mercy as well.
John Ortberg, in "Love Beyond Reason," tells of an experience he had as a lad: "I knew something of the upside and downside of glory. I grew up a Chicago Cubs fan in the late 1960’s. Their entire infield made the all-star team one year. Randy Hundley, the catcher, was a personal favorite.
"One day the phone rang. A neighbor, a girl in my class at school, got my mother on the phone. ’Mrs. Ortberg, you’ll never guess what. Randy Hundley is at my house! I told him John lives next door. He wants to come to your house. Wants to see John.’ Then something went terribly wrong. My mother did not know who Randy Hundley was. Like the Pharoah who ’knew not Joseph,’ she had never heard of him. She thought he was some kid I went to school with, who wanted to come over and play. My mother said, ’Johnny is at piano lessons. You’ll have to tell Randy he can come over and play some other day.’ My mother was a pea brain.
When I got home, my mother told me somebody named Randy Hundley had been next door--had wanted to come over, and she told him maybe some other time. I wanted to call the social services people. Take my mother away. That afternoon I was in a deep depression. Around 5:00 P.M. there was a knock on my door. When I answered it, there stood Randy Hundley. Major League baseball player. All-star. I beheld his glory--the glory of a professional catcher, full of power and a strong right arm.
"He had stopped by our neighbor’s before a speaking engagement, which is when my friend called. After he had finished speaking, although he was a major leaguer with a busy life, he decided to make a stop before he went home to Chicago. He came all the way back to our neighborhood. He tracked down my house. He knocked on my door. ’I didn’t want you to take it out on your piano teacher,’ he said. He encouraged me to keep following Christ. He gave me an autographed baseball (which my mother seems to have thrown away, probably to make room for my sister’s rag doll. At any rate, I can’t find it).
"To a ten-year-old kid, the glory of Randy Hundley wasn’t that he had a Howitzer for an arm or that he hit home runs off Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan. Glory was that someone as important as he was would take the time to come to the home of a little kid. Glory was that one day he laid aside his glove and bat and came knocking on my door. One day, he came just for me."
"The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory,’ John wrote. His majesty is seen over and over again in the gospel accounts of his life and ministry. We behold his glory still when he comes to ordinary, fallen human beings. For the majesty of God is not just his might and power. His glory is that he would come to this corner of the universe, to this insignificant planet, to a ragged people he could not bring himself to discard. His glory is that one day he laid aside his majesty and bliss and came knocking at your door. One day, he came just for you"(pp. 210-211).
2. POWER. This was manifested at the grave of Lazarus as He shouted, "Lazarus, come forth!" (John 11:43). Rusurrection power: that which also calls forth the dead soul to everlasting life and puposeful living. Paul said it well in his letter to the Ephesian believers, "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression--it is by grace you have been saved. And God riased us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus..." (Eph. 2:4-6).
Napolean was one of the greatest military commanders in history. Rising to power in 1799, he built an empire that extended throughout Europe for 15 years. He was finally captured and exiled to the island of St. Helena, off the coast of Africa in 1815 and lived the last six years of his life there. In hs last days he spoke truthfully: "You speak of empires and power. Well, Alexander the Great, Julius Casear, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires, but on what did we found them? Force. Christ founded His on love, and at this moment there are millions ready to die for Him...I see no army, no banner or battering ram; yet a mysterious power is there, working in the interest of Christianity; men secretly sustained here and there by a common faith in the great Unseen. I die before my time, and my body will be given to the earth as food for worms. Such is the fate of him called Napolean the Great. But look to Christ, honored and loved in every land. Look at His kingdom, rising over all other kingdoms. His life was not the life of a man; His death not that of a man but of God."
3. BOLDNESS. This is seen in the setting of His face steadfastly toward Jerusalem. Unlike the Blues Brothers, He truly was on a mission for God!--and for us! Such resoluteness inspires. May we be as determined as He in the pursuit of discipleship and ultimately heaven. May we be as intent as a certain Turkish bride. She tied the knot with eight air rifle pellets lodged in her stomach after boisterous pre-wedding celebrations that almost went tragically wrong. The incident was reported in a Turkish newspaper (Milliyet, August 6, 2110). Aynur Tayoglu, 22, was accidently shot by a relative at a party ahead of her wedding. She was taken to a hospital, but doctors agreed to postpone surgery to remove the pellets after the fiance’s father refused to set another date for the wedding, saying people had traveled a long way for the festivities. So Tayoglu returned to complete the wedding and danced with her new husband despite her wounds. Such determination is to admired and imitated. May the Lord help us to be as committed in the spiritual realm.
4.STERNNESS. This seen in our Lord’s condemnation of Jerusalem that "killed the prophets and stoned them that were sent to you" (Matthew 23:37). This is not a picture of an old, toothless, timid lion. No Snaggletooth here! On the contrary, He roars from a position of authority and respect. To truly see Him is to quake in His presence. He shows His teeth at the proper time, and those who view His open mouth stand paralyzed before Him.
5 ASSERTIVENESS. This quality emerges in the Gospel of John’s succession of "I ams." Hear His voice thunder from the mountain in Sinai: "I AM THAT I AM!" (Exodus 4:14). Hear the Lion roar as He looks down from His holy place--a place that we are not able to ascend, save for the gracious nature of another peak called Calvary.
6. LOFTINESS. He claims the allegience of man as seen in His declaration: "He that loves father and mother more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). Isaiah understood His loftiness, He said, "I see the Lord seated on His throne, exalted. And the train of His robe filled the temple with glory. And the whole earth was filled with His glory." Isaiah’s reaction? To be filled with a sense of worthlessness in His presense. Come let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker and ascribe praise to His name, for His name is holy!
Probaly no one captured the Lion of Judah’s loftiness better than S.M. Lockeridge when he spoke the following:
"He is the one who made us. It is He who made us and not we ourselves. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. No means or measure can define His limitless love, and no far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing. He’s enduringly strong and He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast and He’s immortially graceful. He’s imperially powerful and impartially merciful. He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son; He’s the sinner’s Savior; He’s the centerpiece of civilization. I’m trying to tell you, Church,: You can trust Him!
"He does not have to call for help and you can’t confuse Him. He doesn’t need you and He doesn’t need me. He stands alone in the solitude of Himself. He’s August and He’s unique; He’s unparalleled and He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme, He’s preeminent. He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the supreme problem of higher criticism. He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion. He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the superlative of everything good that you call Him. I’m trying to tell you: You can trust Him!
"He can satisfy all your needs and He can do it simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak and He’s available for the tempted and tried. He symnpathizes and He sees. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick; He cleanses the leper; He forgives sinners; He discharges debtors; He delivers the captives; He defends the feeble; He blesses the young; He regards the aged; He rewards the diligent; He beautifies the meek. I’m trying to tell you Church: You can trust Him!
"He’s the Master of the mighty; He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of heroes; He’s the leader of legislators. He’s the overseer of the over-comers; He’s the governor of the governors. He’s the Prince of princes; He’s the Kinf of kings; He’s the Lord of lords. You can trust Him!
"His office is manifold; His promise is sure; His life is matchless; His goodness is limitless; His mercy is everlasting; His love never changes; His word is enough; His grace is sufficient; His reign is righteous; His yoke is easy; His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you. He’s indescribable because He is incomprehensible. He’s irrestible because He’s invincible. You can’t get Him off your hands and you can’t get Him off you mind. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him. Pilate couldn’t stand it when he found out he couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him and the witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn’t kill Him and death couldn’t handle Him. And, thank God, the grave couldn’t hold Him!
"There was nobody before Him. There will be nobody after Him. He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor. You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign. You can trust Him!"
Look at these qualities again: majuesty, power boldness, stearnness, assertiveness, and loftiness. Do they not move you? Do they not call out for self-examination? Is He, the Lion ruling over us? Have we surrendered to Him as the prevailing One?
The White Witch holds no fear for us. The Spirit of the Lion of Judah resides within as we travel through our Narnia. See the Lion coming to our rescue. He comes with judgment and righteousness. Our hope resides in His promise of deliverance.
"He who was seated on the throne said, ’I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ’Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ’It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."
Revelation 21:5-7
