The Lion and the Lamb - Revelation 5:3-5

The Lion and the Lamb

Revelation 5:3-5

Kenute P. Curry

And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it (5:3).

No one – A search of the entire universe from hell to heaven, and everywhere in between turns up no one worthy to open the scroll.

So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it (5:4).

I wept much – Wept (κλαίω klaíō, Gk) in this context means “to weep, wail, lament, implying not only the shedding of tears, but also every external expression of grief. It is a word that expresses strong, unrestrained emotion (Luke 19:41; 22:62).” This is the only time in Scripture that tears are seen in heaven. John did not have to weep, because God was about to take action

 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals” (5:5).

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David – “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah” points to Jacob’s blessing given to the tribe of Judah in Genesis 49:10. Out of the lion like tribe of Judah would come a strong and fierce ruler – the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:14).

Jesus is also the “Root of David.” This messianic title derives from Isaiah 11:1, 10. The genealogies of Matthew 1 and Luke 3 reveal that Jesus was a descendant of David both on His father’s and mother’s side (Romans 1:3).

Jesus is the only One worthy to take the scroll because of who He is; the rightful King from the line of David, and the Lion from Judah’s tribe. He has overcome!

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, © 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

©2015 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.