Introduction - I’m not “LION” - “ROARSOME” Lion Facts:
- The lion is the second largest cat in the world (next to tigers) … …
- Lions run up to 50 mph, and can jump as far as 36 feet …
- Lions have few predators …
- Lion prides can include up to 30 animals, but typically are made up of 10-15 lions (5-6 females, 2 males, and cubs)
- A male lion’s mane is a symbol of their fighting ability and health …
- Lions have a roar that can carry up to 5 miles. and prides often roar together to defend or mark their territory …
- There are also rare white lions - not albinos, just born with partial loss of pigmentation …
- Lions are symbolic in virtually every culture – generally standing for strength and courage and royalty. lions have a majestic appearance, powerful presentation of leadership, valor and majesty – represented in movies, art, ancient civilizations, the bible
- Lions are pretty good at chilling out – usually around 3 hours of hunting, 1 hour of eating, and 20 hours of resting or sleeping …
- Lions are voracious eaters and are not too picky. they eat 18 or more pounds of meat in a single meal - sometimes up to ¼ of their weight.
- Lions have amazing vision …
*The Turkish word for lion is Aslan (the name used for the lion representing Jesus in the chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis)
*The Swahili word for lion Simba – the name used for the main character Disney’s “The Lion King” movie
Lions mentioned in the bible –
- they lived in the forests, caves, banks of the Jordan river
- used in architecture in the bible – Solomon’s temple, Solomon’s throne, the holy temple in Ezekiel 41:16.20
- the strength, courage and ferocity of lions were proverbial:
- two Samuel 17:10 – “then even the valiant men, whose heart is like the heart of a lion will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant.”
Judges 14:18 – and the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “what is sweeter than honey? what is stronger than a lion?”
REVELATION 5:5 (ESV): AND ONE OF THE ELDERS SAID TO ME, “WEEP NO MORE; BEHOLD, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROOT OF DAVID, HAS CONQUERED, SO THAT HE CAN OPEN THE SCROLL AND ITS SEVEN SEALS.”
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah … A lion may be king of the beasts, but the lion of Judah is the king of kings.
GENESIS 49:8-12
- Judah wasn’t a completely exemplary character …
GENESIS 44:33
GENESIS 29:35
In a powerful way, this prophecy over Judah is a description of his greatest descendant: Jesus Christ.
Imagine being John. In heaven. You are then asked to record all you see. All that is revealed to you. And to pass that record on for others.
REVELATION 5:1-14
Here in this passage we are presented with the lion and the lamb – the two aspects of the nature of Christ. As the Lamb of God, He has come as the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for your sin, for our sin. And as the Lion of Judah, He fulfills the prophecy of Jacob in genesis 49 and is the Messiah who would come from the tribe of Judah.
Why is Jesus worthy to open the scroll? He is worthy because he “has conquered.” We know that, when Jesus returns, he will conquer all of God’s enemies. Jesus is worthy because He has conquered sin and death at the cross.
So when Jesus is referred to as the Lion and the Lamb, we are to see Him as not only the sacrificial Lamb who took the sins of the world from His people so they may share in His ultimate victory, but also the conquering King.
The bible states, “weep no more …”
Weep No More:
This Lion of Judah is on your side. He lives inside you with all the power of salvation. He is going to return for us. When he does – he is going to roar. And that roar will be all the louder because of the time he has kept it in.
And when the lion of Judah roars – we’re going home. So we better be ready to roar with Him and to join with him.
