Revelation 5:1-5 NIV 1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! 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.”
In the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Asland represents Jesus. Asland is a mighty lion. The children ask if Asland is safe. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
Too often Jesus is presented as a safe nicer version of God. We should never forget that Jesus is a Lion as much as He is a Lamb. It is important for us to understand who truly is Jesus. We can get into trouble when we don’t carefully listen to what God is trying to tell us.
Farmer Evans was driving his John Deere tractor along the road with a trailer load of fertilizer. Tim a little boy of eight was playing in his yard when he saw the farmer and asked, ‘What’ve you got in your trailer?’
‘Manure,’ Farmer Evans replied.
‘What are you going to do with it?’ asked Tim.
‘Put it on my strawberries,’ answered the farmer.
Tim replied, ‘You ought to come and eat with us, we put ice-cream on our strawberries.”
We need to have an accurate view of God. How is Jesus like a lion?
A lion is powerful. A lion’s roar can be heard from a distance of over three miles and is the loudest of all feline calls. A lion’s night vision is six times more sensitive to light than humans’. You might tear into a steak with 150 to 200 psi. A dog can bite with over 300 psi. Lions and tigers generate around 1,000 psi.
The mane of the male lion is a distinctive characteristic of lions as no other big cats have them. It makes male lions appear larger, thus allowing them to be more intimidating. Lionesses tend to favor denser and darker manes.
Jesus’ power is shown in His role in creation as one member of the Trinity:
John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Jesus sustains the universe, and he rules over all. The Lion of Judah also is of the same nature and status as His Father.
Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
As the Lion of Judah, Jesus possesses unmatched power and authority. He created, sustains, and will judge the universe. As we pray, read Scripture, worship, and go about our daily lives; let us focus our hearts and minds on the Lion of Judah. There is victory in Jesus. Strength in Jesus. Hope in Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord,
You have matchless might and unrelenting power. May we never take you for granted. Nothing in our lives compares to our relationship with You. Help us this week to focus on our many blessings. We love and adore You. In the holy name of Jesus we pray, amen.