The Lion of Judah

Genesis 49:8-10 (NLT)

"Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grasp your enemies by the neck. All your relatives will bow before you. Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion, he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor."

In this passage, we see Jacob blessing his sons, and of Judah, he declares that his lineage will continue until the One comes—the One who holds the King’s scepter and the Ruler’s shepherd staff. What a beautiful picture of Jesus!

Revelation 5:1-5 (NLT)

"Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: ‘Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.’"

Sometimes, we become overwhelmed—stressed and panicked by the enemies (people or situations) that surround and attack us. But as we continue reading, we see this powerful imagery:

"Look! The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Heir to David’s throne, has won the victory!"

Can you picture it? This mighty Lion, head held high, His mane and face covered in the blood of the enemy He has overcome. He is victorious. He is worthy. He is Jesus.

Jeremiah 23:5 (NLT)

"For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land."

Jesus, our Righteous King, stands for us against the enemy. He rules with His shepherd’s staff, warding off danger, protecting us, and guiding us with the crook of His staff—correcting and leading us in righteousness.

A lion in the natural is crafty, wise, strong, strategic, brave, courageous, defensive, and able to rest when satisfied. As the Lion of Judah, Jesus displays these qualities for us and through us.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (NLT)

"Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Death—separation from God, the consequence of sin—no longer has a hold on us. It has been swallowed up in victory! The victory that the Lion of Judah won for us by overcoming the enemy.

Through Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, we share in His victory over sin and death.

The Lion of Judah roars on our behalf! No scheme of the enemy will harm us. We walk in wisdom, victory, and worthiness—because of Jesus.