Answers from the Word

A friend asked this week, "What's the connection between the 'Lion of the tribe of Judah' and Christianity?"
Well, the story of the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" is very old. It goes all the way back to Genesis and the death of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham.
When Jacob was on his deathbed, his twelve sons gathered around and their father spoke to each one... including Judah. The personal blessing that Jacob shared with Judah was also a three-part prophecy, fulfilled at the End of Time. So, let's examine each of the three parts.
First, Jacob established an association between Judah and the Great Lion, meant to identify the promised King by the token of His royal scepter. The King would be unique in that all nations would honor Him, "Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh (the Prince of Peace) comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people (nations)." Genesis 49:9-10
Much later, we see this same King foreshadowed during the days of Moses when a pagan seer/astrologer named Balaam prophesied by the power of God, "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob (the Star of Bethlehem); A Scepter (King) shall rise out of Israel." Numbers 24:17
During the painful ordeal of Christ's passion, we get our first glimpse of the Great King with His scepter, "They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18And they began to call out to him, 'Hail, King of the Jews (The term Jew comes from the name Jude, another spelling for Judah)!' 19Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff (the staff was a royal rod or kingly scepter) and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him." Mark 15:17-19
Second, dying Jacob provided another crucial link to the identity of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, "He ties his foal to a grapevine, the colt of his donkey to a choice vine." Genesis 49:11
The prophet Zechariah promised the very same thing, "Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey's colt." Zechariah 9:9
In Matthew's Gospel, we see the fulfillment of Jacob's promise to Judah during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, "They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 9Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, 'Praise God for the Son of David (King David was a member of the tribe of Judah, and Jesus was a descendant of King David)! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!'" Matthew 21:7-9
Third, Jacob told his son Judah a most tantalizing clue about the Lion of the Tribe of Judah as the old man died, "He washes his clothes in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 12His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk." Genesis 49:11-12
The crimson stain of grape "blood," soaking the King's clothing, was a metaphor. Cunningly, Judah's father contrasts the milky-white teeth for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to His bloodshot eyes, darker than wine. Since his pearly teeth were not stained from drinking, then His red eyes and soggy clothing represented the blood from His beating in Mark 15:17-19.
Isaiah uses the same metaphor to illustrate the stark image, "Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength? 'It is I, the LORD, announcing your salvation! It is I, the LORD, who has the power to save!'" Isaiah 63:1
Regarding the association between the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" and Christianity/the Church, John shared a vision he received about the Great King's arrival at the End of Time, "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13HE WAS CLOTHED WITH A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD, and His name is called The Word of God. 15Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16
In conclusion, according to John the Lion of the tribe of Judah is Jesus - the crucified Lamb, "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.' 6Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered..." Revelation 5:5-6 When Christ returns, sinners will face the devouring Lion (Jer. 4:7, Jer. 25:38) while Believers receive their beloved Lamb.
So, which one are you ready to meet, the Lion or the Lamb?
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