December 7, 2025
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TOPIC: Jesus is the Lion of Judah
SERMON SUMMARY:
The Lion of Judah: When Weakness Becomes Strength
I'll never forget hearing lions roar in the darkness while on a boat in Zimbabwe back in 1997. As their roars grew closer through the moonless night, every hair on my neck stood up. It was terrifying and awe-inspiring all at once. That experience came rushing back as I prepared to preach about Jesus as the Lion of Judah.
This title of Jesus appears at both ends of Scripture. In Genesis 49, Jacob prophetically blessed his son Judah, declaring that a ruler would come from his line who would reign over all nations. Then in Revelation 5, when no one was found worthy to open the sealed scroll, an elder proclaimed that the Lion of the tribe of Judah had triumphed and could open it.
But here's what struck me most: the lion and the lamb are one and the same Jesus. Right after John hears about the lion, he looks up and sees a lamb that had been slain. This reveals the counterintuitive economy of God's kingdom—in weakness and meekness, we reveal God's strength.
Paul understood this when God refused to remove his thorn in the flesh, saying "My power is made perfect in weakness." It was in the weakness of the lamb who was slain that the Lion of Judah conquered the ruler of this world.
When we face our own Goliaths—those insurmountable obstacles—we must remember our weakness and turn to His strength. When the Lion of Judah roars, the enemy trembles. And when we speak and pray in His name, those forces flee.
I have this sense that in these times of rising evil, the Lion of Judah is about to roar. Let's be confident in proclaiming what is true.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:
The Paradox of Strength in Weakness: Paul said "when I am weak, then I am strong." What area of your life feels like a weakness or limitation right now? How might God be inviting you to trust His strength rather than your own in that situation?
The Lion and the Lamb: We often think of Jesus as either gentle and meek or powerful and victorious. How does understanding that Jesus is both the Lion and the Lamb simultaneously change the way you approach Him in prayer or worship?
Speaking in His Voice: Fr. Rob reminds us that when we speak and pray in Jesus' name, the enemy trembles. Do you pray with confidence in the authority Christ has given you, or do you tend to pray timidly? What would change if you truly believed your prayers carry the roar of the Lion of Judah?
Ordained in the Anglican Church more than 20 years ago, The Very Reverend Rob Holman has led congregations in New York and Los Angeles with sound biblical preaching, prayerful discernment, and trained organizational management skills. Besides his role as Rector of St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Montrose, CA, Fr. Rob is also Dean of the Greater Los Angeles Deanery in the ACNA’s Diocese of Western Anglicans. During his tenure in Los Angeles, he has run Kingdom Conferences for the Diocese and been a speaker at the Deanery’s annual Next Steps in Mission training day. Fr. Rob received his Master of Divinity at Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA and is a graduate of the University of Virginia (BS Engineering '87 and MBA '91).
For over a century, the congregation of St. Luke’s has followed Jesus Christ through ancient forms of worship and spiritual growth presented in a contemporary style. St. Luke’s celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. The original building, made of stones from the local mountains, still stands on Foothill Blvd in La Crescenta—though the Anglican congregation has moved to a new building just a few blocks away near downtown Montrose. Retaining its biblically faithful foundation and liturgically rich worship service through the move, this long-standing Los Angeles church also carries on a tradition of warm welcome for newcomers. St. Luke’s is part of the Diocese of Western Anglicans, Anglican Church in North America, and the Global Anglican Communion. We invite you to join us online or in person this Sunday!
