RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’” (Revelation 5:5)
When my wife and I were married, we gave a Bible to one another for a wedding present. We had inscribed on the front cover the words, “God said it. We believe it. That settles it.” That sounded great, but later I learned it wasn’t completely accurate. It should have read, “God said it. That settles it. And I believe it.” You see, the Bible is true whether we believe it or not! It’s the Word of God. When God says something, you can rest assured it’s true. When a prophecy is given in the Scriptures, you can know for certain it will come to pass.
One of the early prophecies in the Bible was given to the tribe of Judah. In the Book of Genesis, the Bible states, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to Him {shall be} the obedience of the peoples” (Genesis 49:10 nasb). This is a direct prophecy of the Messiah who would one day come, and to whom peoples of all nations would give obedience. Hallelujah! Jesus is the fulfillment of that prophecy. God’s Word said it. Jesus fulfilled it, and now we’re the benefactors.
In the Book of Revelation, Jesus is referred to as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. That passage speaks of the fulfillment of the promise made to Judah thousands of years earlier. It’s interesting that Jesus is given the title of “Lion.” One interpretation is that Jesus is the king of the tribe of Judah. He’s the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He’s the One to whom all honor, glory, and power are due. He’s the One to whom all the nations will one day bow and confess that He is the Lord.
The Bible speaks of the devil as a “roaring lion.” But Jesus isn’t merely a “roaring lion.” He’s the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The devil has the ability only to roar. Jesus has the ability to rule. The devil can produce only fear. Jesus produces faith. The devil is the defeated “prince of the air.” Jesus is the victorious “Prince of Peace.” The devil was defeated by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus is the Lamb who sits on the throne. So the Bible gives Him the name “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”
Our victory lies in the fulfillment of a prophecy made to Judah thousands of years ago. It’s believed that the symbol on the flag of the tribe of Judah was the lion. They carried high the emblem of the coming Messiah who would be like a lion. He would reign over the nations. They weren’t ashamed of Him. They understood only in part, but they knew the Messiah would one day come out of their tribe and reign over the peoples of the world.
Jesus did come from the tribe of Judah. He does reign triumphantly. He will reign victoriously over the nations. Yes, He’s the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Worship Him today as the King! Allow Him to rule in your heart, and you’ll know the peace that can only be found in His kingdom.