Most of us won’t spend much time close to lions. I did see a mountain lion once in Pidcoke at night. However, many of us live with or near another feline, cats.

Cats sleep so much that, by the time a cat is 9 years old, it will only have been awake for three years of its life. However, Cats can run 3 mph faster than Usain Bolt. Cats can make over 100 vocal sounds. Cats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine (26 purrs per second). As awesome as cats can be, lions are incredibly impressive felines.

Namibia supports a unique population of desert-adapted lions that survive in the harsh Namib Desert. The “Desert” lion is a prominent feature in Namibia and is highly valued, by the growing tourism industry. Namibia has received international recognition f or successful conservation efforts, such as the communal conservancy program, that led to significant increases in wildlife numbers, especially in the arid areas. Researchers studying the desert lions there reached the following conclusions: As a species, the lion is highly adaptive and resilient.

Current research findings demonstrate that Desert lions can survive in extreme conditions. They do not need to drink water and feed on ostriches and occasionally on seals. The little moisture they do take in is obtained from the blood of their prey. To find their prey, they need to travel very long distances in search of food. Hunger will drive them to take some risks when hunting larger prey. They breed rapidly under ideal conditions and are quick to expand into areas of suitable habitat.

Jesus fulfills the prophecy found in Genesis 49:9-11:

The true “Lion and the Lamb” passage is Revelation 5. The Lion and the Lamb both refer to Jesus Christ. He is both the conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb who was slain. The Lion and the Lamb are descriptions of two aspects of the nature of Christ. As the Lion of Judah, He fulfills the prophecy of Genesis 49:9 and is the Messiah who would come from the tribe of Judah. As the Lamb of God, He is the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for sin. Today we will examine Jesus' title as the Lion of Judah.

The scene of Revelation 4—5 is the heavenly throne room. After receiving the command to write to the seven churches in Asia Minor, John is “caught up in the spirit” to the throne room in heaven where he is to receive a series of visions that culminate in the ultimate victory of Christ at the end of the age. Revelation 4 shows us the endless praise that God receives from the angels and the 24 elders. Chapter 5 begins with John noticing that there is a scroll in the “right hand of him who was seated on the throne.” The scroll has writing on the inside and is sealed with seven seals.

After giving us a description of the scroll, an angel proclaims with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” John begins to despair when no one comes forth to answer the angel’s challenge. One of the 24 elders encourages John to “weep no more,” and points out that the Lion of the tribe of Judah has come to take and open the scroll. The Lion of the tribe of Judah is obviously a reference to Christ. The image of the lion is meant to convey kingship. Jesus is worthy to receive and open the scroll because he is the King of God’s people.

Too often Jesus is presented as a safe nicer version of God. We should never forget that Jesus is a Lion as much as He is a Lamb.

It is important for us to understand who truly is Jesus. We can get into trouble when we don’t carefully listen to what God is trying to tell us.

Back in Genesis 49:9, when Jacob was blessing his sons, Judah is referred to as a “lion’s cub,” and in verse 10 we learn that the “scepter shall not depart from Judah.” The scepter is a symbol of lordship and power. This was a prophecy that in Israel the kingly line would be descended from Judah. That prophecy was fulfilled when David succeeded to the throne after the death of King Saul (2 Samuel). David was descended from the line of Judah, and his descendants were the kings in Israel/Judah until the time of the Babylonian captivity in 586 BC.

This imagery of kingship is further enhanced when Jesus is described as the “root of David.” This takes us back to the words of Isaiah the prophet.

As the root of David, Jesus is not only being identified as a descendant of David, but also the source or “root” of David’s kingly power.

He is worthy because He “has conquered.” We know that, when Jesus returns, He will conquer all of God’s enemies, as graphically described in Revelation 19. However, more importantly, Jesus is worthy because He has conquered sin and death at the cross. The cross was the ultimate victory of God over the forces of sin and evil. The events that occur at the return of Christ are the “mop-up” job to finish what was started at the cross. Because Jesus secured the ultimate victory at Calvary, He is worthy to receive and open the scroll, which contains the righteous judgment of God.

A lion is powerful.

A lion’s roar can be heard from a distance of over three miles and is the loudest of all feline calls.

A lion’s night vision is six times more sensitive to light than humans’.

You might tear into a steak with 150 to 200 psi. A dog can bite with over 300 psi. Lions and tigers generate around 1,000 psi.

The mane of the male lion is a distinctive characteristic of lions as no other big cats have them. It makes male lions appear larger, thus allowing them to be more intimidating. Lionesses tend to favor denser and darker manes.

Jesus' power is shown in His role in creation as one member of the Trinity.

Jesus sustains the universe and he rules over all. The Lion of Judah also is of the same nature and status as His Father.

Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Hebrews is about Jesus’ supremacy. No other book of the Bible so powerfully demonstrates Jesus’ supremacy. Throughout Hebrews, the author compares Jesus to the heroes and icons of the Jewish faith. Each hero played a part, but His sacrifice, His covenant, and His current ministry are far, far greater than anything the others have to offer.

* Jesus is greater than the angels, because He is the divine King (Heb 1:4, 6, 8).

* Jesus is greater than Moses, because while Moses was a servant of God, Jesus is the Son of God (Heb 3:3–4)

* Jesus is greater than Joshua, because Jesus brings a greater rest to the people of God (Heb 4:8–9).

*Jesus is a greater priest than Aaron, because He is sinless and immortal (Heb 7:26–28).

As the Lion of Judah, Jesus possesses unmatched power and authority. He created, sustains, and will judge the universe. Next week we examine Jesus as the Lamb of God.

As we pray, read Scripture, worship, and go about our daily lives; let us focus our hearts and minds on the Lion of Judah. There is victory in Jesus. Strength in Jesus. Hope in Jesus.