The Names and Titles of Jesus 27/10

Lion of Judah T 27/10

Here, the imagery of the lion reflects the powerful, majestic, and kingly nature of the lion, often regarded as the king of beasts. Applied to Judah, this is significant because it heralds the lineage of Judah as that of kings. For out of Judah’s line, King David and his descendants would rule over Israel until the time of the Babylonian captivity  and generations later, Jesus Christ would come as a descendent of David and Judah to forge a new covenant and usher in a new kingdom of heavenly glory.

Furthermore, when Jacob says that “the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,” he was also proclaiming the eventual eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ, who will forever as king, the sceptre being a symbol of his kingly authority and lordship. 

This is the main reason why Jesus is often referred to as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

For us today, we can picture an image of the Lion as the strong protector, but we can also describe the Messiah as the Lamb of God.  Both of these images are also mentioned in scripture in that wonderful picture of the Lion laying down with the Lamb. The characteristics of the lion and the lamb form a vivid contrast of expectations when used metaphorically. While the lion is known for its strength and ferocity, the lamb is regarded as a gentle and dependent creature. Nevertheless, both are at times associated with the person and work of God. These metaphors and the attendant imagery give hope and confidence to the believer. As taken into union with Christ (Col. 1:27) the believer may through the power of the Holy Spirit exhibit lion-like courage together with lamb-like following and dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lion of Judah’s tribe, draw near,

Let all mankind Thy roarings hear,

Let all mankind revere Thy power;

Utter Thy voice, almighty Lord,

Pronounce the desolating word,

And thunder from Thy heav’nly tower!

Crown Thy impatient people’s hope,

And fill our faith and knowledge up,

The kingdom to Thy saints restore;

And when Thy church is filled with Thee,

Pure holiness Thy church shall be,

And sin shall never enter more.

Charles Wesley