Onomaticon: Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Son of Man, and King of the Jews
Lion of the Tribe of Judah
A lion. Something so fierce, yet it can be so beautiful and magnificent all at the same time! Jesus was called the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” in Revelation 5:5, which reads “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.” Jesus’ lineage can be traced back to King David, who was promised that he would never lack a descendant on the throne. This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus, for Mary was a descendant of David in the tribe of Judah. Now that He is risen from the dead, Christ will occupy the throne of David forever.
When a lion roars it is heard for 5 miles in every direction! Jesus will and is proclaiming His glory and it will be heard in every direction. Just like a king or emperor proclaims things, so does our Heavenly Father.
Son of Man
The term “son of man” is mentioned many times in the Bible, but let’s focus on one. Matthew 20:28 reads “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” God wanted to (as we phrase it) “step into our shoes” for a change. He wanted to feel what we feel — to know firsthand the nature of man that He created. He humbled himself so He could say without qualification that He knew why we feel the way we do. God became a man — the son of man — not so He could understand us, but so we could understand Him.
King of the Jews
“The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.” – Mark 15:26
A king is a high ranked official. The definition of “king” in Webster’s Dictionary means “the chief authority”. Jesus is the King or the “high authority,” not only over the Jews but over all humanity. However, just like earthly kings, it’s possible for us to reject His rule. Regardless of what authority He commands and the respect and devotion He deserves, it is up to us to accept Jesus’ rule in our lives. The ancient rulers who crucified the “King of the Jews” rejected His rule, and in the process they rejected the possibility of living in His kingdom: eternal life. But when we acknowledge God as King, the reverse is true and we enjoy the privilege of being part of His Kingdom.
It’s interesting that the Bible says King of Kings was the charge against Jesus. His people could have accepted their king but they would not. I’m looking forward to the day when He roars and the whole world hears and bows.