Lion vs Lion

September 7, 2024

Last month I got to thinking about lions. Specifically, about “adversary the devil,” who walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Then, about that greater lion, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5), who alone is able to bring history to completion.

We see many representations of Jesus the Lion in current literature and art. I think it really began to take hold with C.S. Lewis’ Narnia tales about Aslan, the lion who represents Christ. When Lewis describes him as “dangerous, but good,” we get this picture of him, strong and powerful, defeating the White Witch with a swipe of his clawed paw. But that’s not how Aslan defeated her, and it’s not how Christ defeats Satan.

Listen to the rest of his description:

Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…” —Revelation 5:5-6 

The Lion of the tribe of Judah is the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world for our sins.” Satan is defeated not by a show of muscular or military strength, but by Jesus submitting himself to death that he might overcome death in his resurrection. 

The power of the enemy in our lives today is defeated the same way. We submit ourselves to the will of God, surrender our right to determine our destiny, even swallowing injustice ourselves so the love of Christ might be manifest in and through us. It’s not easy, but Jesus himself said if we would truly live, we must die to ourselves, pick up a cross, and follow him.