Advent Meditation #3
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 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 5:1-5)
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
(Revelation 22:16)
Our two passages above are rich with Biblical imagery. In the Old Testament we are told that the Savior would be a lion from the tribe of Judah, a star come out of Jacob, and a shoot growing from the stump of Jesse (Gen. 49:9-10; Num. 24:17; Is. 11:1, 10). This language may seem abstract to modern ears, but each of these word-pictures paints a powerful portrait of who our Savior is and what he came to accomplish.
First, Jesus is called, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5). As a courageous lion, Jesus has conquered our great enemies: the wrath of God, the guilt and power of sin, and death itself. Second, Jesus declares that he is, “the root and the descendant of David” (Rev. 22:16). Jesus claims to be both David’s source and David’s son—both the holy God and a true man. As the promised Divine-King, Jesus omnipotently reigns over his beloved people for their everlasting good. Third, Jesus claims that he is, “the bright morning star” who was foretold, (Rev. 22:16). After the long and dark night of anticipation, the Light of life has finally dawned in the birth of Christ. Just as the sunrise marks the beginning of a new day, so the birth of Christ marked the beginning of a new age of life and salvation for sinners.
What a comfort and joy to know that Christ is the Lion that we need to conquer our enemies, the King we need to rule over us, and the Light who illumines the way of salvation to our souls that were lost in darkness. May we stand in amazement at the unfathomable wonder of who this child is that was born in a manger so long ago: the promised Savior of his people!