Lion of Judah | Is He Worthy

The story of Chronicles of Narnia climaxes when Aslan, the hero of the story is sacrificed on the stone slab in the hands of the witch. He did not do any wrong, He was dying for another’s wrongdoing.

Amazingly, at the brink of defeat to the witch, Aslan reappears, coming victoriously in battle to save Narnia. The witch is stunned, defeated, and Aslan restores peace and justice to Narnia. Aslan gently speaks to Lucy saying:

‘If the Witch knew the true meaning of sacrifice, she might have interpreted the deep magic differently. That when a willing victim who has committed no treachery, is killed in a traitor’s stead, the stone table will crack, and even death itself would turn backwards.’

Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)

The picture is beautiful and moving, one without sin dying for the sin of another and defeating sin altogether!

Yet it is not new.

A similarly albeit grander picture was written in the Bible about 2000 years ago. In the book of Revelation 5:1-14, John, an apostle of Jesus, in a vision weeps because no one is able to break the seal and open the scroll. No one either in heaven or on earth is worthy.

And one of the elders says to him, “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.”

John continues to write:

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelations 5:6-10

There is no one worthy! No one able to open and set into motion the full purpose of God for human history. No one able to redeem the sin of mankind. No one on earth or in heaven.

The sin of mankind has put us in a mess. Who is worthy to redeem us? Even the most righteous man on earth falls short. No angel can atone for men’s sin. We are stuck in a dead end. Death seems like the ultimate fate of men. No one is worthy to right what has been wrong.

Only God can.

And God does.

Jesus is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb that was slain to purchase men for God from every tribe and tongue. God Himself becoming man to sacrifice for us.

Aslan dies on the stone slab.

Jesus died on the cross.

And just as death was defeated in the case of the story of Narnia, the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ defeats sin and death and evil, bringing redemption to all who willingly receive Him.

When we see the world, we see a world full of sin, death, pain and evil. Sickness abounds. Evil practices that makes us sick in our tummy. The earth cries out. The oppressed cry out. We feel lost, we weep. Is this going to be then end of the story?

Thanks be to God is it not the end. Jesus the only one worthy, has through the cross defeated sin and death, rising again to show this victory. Today, if we receive Jesus we taste that freedom from sin on a personal level. However, one day His full purpose will be fulfilled, there will be a new heaven and earth with no more tears, no more pain, no more sin.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain…

Revelation 21:4

All because the Lion of Judah became a Lamb that was slain.

Today, I don’t know what you are facing.

But, take heart, its not the end of the story if you allow Jesus in. The perfect Creator who died for your sin wants to come and redeem you from the weight caused by sin, promising you a life with Him that is eternal, and a story that eventually triumphs over evil.

His Story.