Advent Day 35: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Lion, Peter Paul Rubens, 1612–1613. Black chalk heightened with white chalk on paper, 25.2 x 28.3 cm. Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.. Public Domain.

“Lion” from the album Lion, performed by Elevation Worship featuring Chris Brown and Brandon Lake, composed by Steven Furtick Jr., Brandon Lake, and Chris Brown.

Poetry:

from “The Lions”
by Edwin Curran

The jungle glistens like a cloud—
Purple-cool, tree-deep, lake-pearled;
Where lions lurk and thrash and crowd,
Like lands that battle for the world.
Behold, one lion leaps for his prey,
Trotting like a saffron mist,
As savage nations in our day
Pounce on some weak antagonist.

Across the jungle-painted grass
His roar breaks through the tropic air;
And he runs like a tawny flame—
Swift yellow stroke of lightning there.
His cry is like the thunder’s sound,
Shaking leaf and bough and bole;
And he is part of Africa—
The yellow monarch in her soul.

Painted birds fly through the trees
And stain the sky with brown on blue,
Hammering with their wings the breeze,
Hitting songs across the dew.
Parrots gaudy as a star
Tap their bells and chatter sound.
Each insect sweeps his dim guitar
Like music hidden in the ground.

The tawny lion goes like a shot—
A daub of gold against the green,
Scenting a wounded bleeding doe
That he is following unseen.
A spangled serpent lights a tree,
A coiling flame around it, curled;
But the old lion goes great and free,
The master of his jungle world.

Bravely born and bravely bred,
Proud as a diamond of his fire,
This yellow monarch of the south
Goes like the hosts that swarmed to Tyre.
Hungry to kill, he scents the air,
And roars into beginning night,
His blond mane tossing up its hair,
His eyes two pools of blazing light.

He stops and lips the evening gale,
Reading the wind across the trees;
Giant cat in his tawny mail,
Spelling out the trail-warm breeze.
Then on he darts as though with wings,
To find his prey and drink the blood
And feast upon the harmless things
That God has put into the wood.

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

When one thinks of the Lion, one envisions an animal with the following qualities: majesty, courage, strength, nobility, and leadership. The lion is often described as the “King of Beasts” and supreme ruler of the jungle. These titles, along with their accompanying characteristics, depict Jesus Christ as well, for He IS “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” Revelation 5:5 states: “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David.”

To help one contemplate the supremacy of Christ, artwork and music accompanies this devotion. A close look at Sir Peter Paul Rubens’s Lion reveals a beautiful creature defined by black chalk and highlighted with white chalk. This lion’s expression conveys courage, and his muscular body underscores vitality. Amos 3:7-8 could be a footnote to this artwork: “A lion has roared! Who will not fear?”

Edwin Curran’s poem “The Lions” also helps readers understand the supremacy of “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” Curran describes the natural beauty of the lion while revealing its savagery and predatory nature. As the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah,” Christ is often portrayed as radiant and majestic. Curran describes his beautiful creature as “trotting like a saffron mist” (l. 5), “run[ning] like a tawny flame” (l. 10), and “bravely born and bravely bred” (l. 32). Yet, Curran’s lion is single focused in its mission to kill its prey. To save humanity, Christ has stalked and conquered Satan in the same way that the lion is “hungry to kill” and “roars into beginning night” (ll. 36-37).

Along with art and prose, music completes the picture of Jesus Christ as “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” Elevation Worship portrays Christ as a “roaring lion.” The group sings, “Roar! (Roar!)/Roar! Roar/Let the Lion roar!/(Roar!)Roar! (Roar). The singers declare that Jesus Christ is unrivaled and victorious. Verse two identifies “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah” as the “Pride of Zion, prophets spoke/Our Messiah, flesh and bone/You alone are worthy/To open up the scroll/Like the lamb, You suffered/But the Lion has arose.

However, to depict Jesus as only “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah” who fought and won against sin, death, and the devil is incomplete. True, Jesus is the roaring lion who is fierce. People fear Him because of their depraved nature. However, Jesus is the Lamb of God who is merciful, forgiving, tender, loving, and abounding in grace.

So, there are two sides to Jesus. Like a lion, He is fierce; like a lamb, He is gentle. Like a lion, Jesus is powerful; like a lamb, He is personal. Jesus is both a punisher and forgiver. He is the deliverer of both the Law and the Gospel. Jesus is truly The Lion of the Tribe of Judah who defeated Satan and the Slain Lamb of God who sacrificed Himself for His children.

Prayer:
Almighty God, fierce Lion of the Tribe of Judah, thank you for your victory over sin and death. Your death was the price that you paid so that we can have eternal life. Thank you, too, gentle Lion of the Tribe of Judah, for your tender, forgiving, and merciful nature which permits your followers to embrace both the Lion and the Lamb and to receive eternal life.
Amen

Dr. Christie Curtis
Associate Dean
Graduate Chair, School of Education
Associate Professor
Biola University