LEON IOUDA
(pronounced leh-own ee-oo'-das)
THE LION OF JUDAH
Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, The Lion of the tribe of Judah, The Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me, One to be Ruler over Israel--One Whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. (cf) John 1:1-3
Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.
This is no ordinary lion. Nor is He the fearful lion, circling his hunting grounds. This is THE LION of the tribe of Judah, Whose arrival was foretold by the prophet Micah. This is Shiloh (pronounced SHEE-loh), The Messiah.
Both His human nature and His divine nature are emphasized here. As The Lion of the tribe of Judah Christ is The Branch. As The Root of David, He is The One From Whom the lineage of David began. He is both man and God at the same time. And only Christ can open The Book With Seven Seals, for no one else in time had the authority to do so.
Christ is Foundation, The Rock, The Chief Cornerstone upon which our faith is built, upon which the church He loves is built: He is The Beginning of all things and He is The End. Not only is He Foundation, He is Covering. He covers the church with His covenant of grace and mercy, which is found in the blood which flowed from His Body on the cross of Calvary.
As The Lion of the tribe of Judah, Christ has triumphed over sin once and for all when He died on the cross as the scapegoat for all of humanity's sins. He became The Substitutionary Lamb, with the sins of the whole world placed upon His shoulders. Why did He do that for us? Because of His great love for people everywhere:
John 3:16, 17
For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Jesus Christ is The Messiah Who was prophesied from the beginning in The Written Word of God. Who has been long looked for by all who have sought God and lived. For though the flesh and bones of the seekers are long since turned to dust, because of their faith in God, and The Promise of God, they are with God even now. They didn't just have faith in God, they believed God and obeyed God, even if it cost them their very lives. Hebrews 11
The Lion of the tribe of Judah has TRIUMPHED over sin (at the cross), over death, hell and the grave (in the garden) and has risen from the dead to bring us into a New Eternal Life in Him. Though He was innocent He was killed nonetheless. Though He never sinned He paid the penalty for sin, which is death and hell. The Lion died, yet lives He even now, for He is seated at the right hand of God His Father, interceding for His people.
And when we all get to heaven, we will see Him in all His glory; a glory we cannot even begin to imagine. This Jesus is The Lion of Judah, The Root of David: The One Who Has Triumphed Over Sin and Death and The Grave (Hades/Hell).
1 Corinthians 15:55
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
This Lion is calling you and I to His side, to share His gospel message of salvation through Him. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) "Repent, and be baptized in The Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of The Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38). Turn from doing what you want and do what God wants. Even if you and I think we are doing nothing wrong, if we are not obeying God's Word, then we are most definitely doing something wrong. And that disobedience separates us from God.
Separation from God is permanent if we refuse to answer His call of repentance. In Luke 16:22-31 we read of two men who died and went to the grave: one into Paradise and one into hell. The one who believed God and obeyed God in his lifetime went to Paradise. The one who did not believe God and disobeyed God in his lifetime went to hell. Neither man could leave the places in which they were sent. Only one Man could do that, when He Triumphed over death and the grave. And that Man is Jesus Christ, The Lion of the tribe of Judah.
Where are you headed? What is your destination right now were you to die today? Are you ready to spend an eternity without knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior? Or are you ready to spend an eternity knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior?
The choice is yours. Choose wisely.
