by Rev Douglas Brauner

Jesus Stands Above Our Daily Battles

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.'”
Revelation 5:5 English Standard Version

I haven’t gone on safari so I don’t have a picture of a lion. I do, however, have pictures of roots. From this picture it’s hard to understand what John means when he call Jesus the Root of David. Having never met a lion, we might also struggle with the idea behind him being the Lion of Judah.

This week’s Praying With The Eyes devotions will focus on the names for Jesus in the book of revelation. As we consider what it means to keep God’s name holy, we think about Jesus, the Son of God, God in human flesh and the names assigned him in this letter.

His name is Lion of Judah. What image does a lion create for you? Power, dignity, pride? For the Jews it would picture royalty and connect to God’s promise to the tribe of Judah through Jacob. Judah is called a lion from which a scepter would rise (Genesis 49:9-10). Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise. He reigns like a lion, like Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia.

Jesus is also called the Root of David. Once again, Jesus is connected to royalty. In 2 Samuel 7:16 God promised David that his throne would be established forever. Jesus established David’s throne as an eternal throne through his death and resurrection. He isn’t seat on earth but at the right hand of God.

Jesus is worthy of our worship and praise.

I get it. The picture of Jesus as a king might not be as powerful as it once was. In fact, it might be an image that makes us uncomfortable. However, in a world filled with ugliness, pain and sin, it is good to know that there is one who fights for us.

This Lion of Judah, this Root of David rules for you not against you no matter your daily battles.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado