The Lion You've Been Missing: Rediscovering Jesus' True Identity
For years, many Christians have grown up with an incomplete picture of Jesus. We've embraced the Lamb—the gentle, sacrificial Savior who died on the cross for our sins. But somewhere along the way, we've missed the Lion.
Pastor Gary Snowzell's transformative message challenges believers to confront a crucial question: Have you taken the wrong Jesus home?
The Revelation That Changes Everything
In Revelation 5:4-6, John weeps because no one is worthy to open the scroll. Then an elder declares, "Do not weep. See, the lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed." But when John looks, he sees a Lamb that had been slain. This powerful imagery reveals a fundamental truth: The lamb is His role, but the lion is His identity.
Jesus didn't cease being the Lion when He became the Lamb. The Lion of Judah stepped down from heaven, took on the role of the sacrificial Lamb for one day on the cross, but lived over 12,000 other days as a Lion. Understanding this distinction transforms everything about how we see God, ourselves, and our purpose in the church.
Breaking Free from Domesticated Christianity
Many believers have fallen into what Pastor Gary calls "zucosis"—a condition where captive lions pace aimlessly without purpose, despite having all their needs met. Similarly, Christians can become domesticated, focused on being fed week after week, grooming themselves spiritually, yet lacking the purpose and adventure Jesus calls us to.
The domesticated church becomes insular, intolerant, and stuck in cycles of church hurt. But when believers discover the Lion, they break free into radical, purposeful faith. They stop merely coping through life and start living as conquerors.
From the Cross to Pentecost
While we rightly worship at the cross and the empty tomb—where Jesus paid the ultimate price—we receive our power at Pentecost. Too many Christians stay stuck at the cross, caught in an endless cycle of failing and seeking forgiveness. But Jesus commanded His followers to wait for power—the Holy Spirit's power that transforms ordinary people into world-changers.
This is what transformed Peter from a denier into a bold preacher who saw thousands come to Christ. He discovered the lion heart of Jesus and stepped into his identity as a son of the Lion.
The Call to Adventure
Following the Lion isn't safe, but as C.S. Lewis wrote, "Of course he isn't safe, but he's good. He is not tame, but he's the king." Christianity was never meant to be predictable or comfortable. It's the greatest adventure—filled with risk, danger, and the unpredictable purposes of God.
The question confronting every believer is simple yet profound: Where have you become domesticated? Have you settled for religious routine instead of radical faith? Have you focused on being fed rather than learning to hunt for souls and advance the kingdom?
Today is the day to pursue the Lion, to find your roar, and to live with the authority that comes from knowing you're born of the Lion of Judah. The DNA of the Lion lives in every believer who accepts Jesus as both Savior and Lord. It's time to step into that identity and watch God do the impossible through ordinary people who refuse to settle for anything less than His wild, adventurous plan.