To the average person, Jesus Christ is a good guy. Many believe He came to Earth to live a good life and teach us how to live one as well. Christ might be seen as a comforting friend or a way for us to achieve happiness and success. Yet the Messiah who was promised in the Old Testament is pictured in a way we often neglect, yet must never forget.
Christ in the Old Testament
The scepter will not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Genesis 49:10)
In the Bible, a scepter is a symbol of rulership and authority. Here, we see that Jacob’s son Judah would be a line of royalty. This was eventually seen with the coming of King David, and it was easy for Israel to assume that these words in Genesis stopped there. Yet when God revealed that all people would be obedient to the One who was coming, He was speaking of much more than a human king. This ruler from the tribe of Judah would be worthy to not only rule Israel, but all the Earth.
Fulfilled in the New Testament
For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests. (Hebrews 7:14)
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:2-5)
Yet another prophecy fulfilled by Christ is that He came from the tribe of Judah. He is the fulfillment of the scepter, the eternal authority, who will command the obedience of the world.
In Revelation, we see even more of what this authority means. Seeing Jesus Christ as King isn’t just a nice idea that we say without thinking – Christ alone is worthy of everything it means to be King of Kings. He has the right to declare us sinless. He has the right to judge the world at His second coming. And today, He has the right to be Lord and King of our lives.
We love Jesus for bringing us comfort, peace, and salvation. But do we love Him for His authority? Do we worship Him as our true and rightful king, or do we try to pull Him down to a supporting role in our lives?
Thousands of years ago, God promised us a king. That king wasn’t meant to just rule Israel, but all people. Today, we know that Jesus Christ is our king, and He is worthy of everything in our lives.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)
As we consider who Christ truly is, we need to make sure that Christ alone has all authority in our lives. We need to trust that whatever the King says is true, even if we don’t understand it or even like it. However Christ calls us to live our lives, we don’t have the right or authority to question Him. Instead, we have the joy and privilege of submitting to the only One worthy to rule the Earth.
