The Victorious One

The familiar “swoosh” logo on a pair of tennis shoes is immediately recognized by most people as a symbol for the largest manufacturer of sporting goods in the world: Nike. Blue Ribbon Sports, launched in 1964, became Nike in 1971 and was named after the Greek goddess of victory.

But this Greek word, nika?, has a much greater application than running shoes. It means “to conquer” and “to be victorious,” and it is used in our verse by “one of the elders” to describe Christ. The word shows up in the New Testament 28 times—six times in Revelation.

When “no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll,” a document on which hung the destiny of the human race, John “wept much.” The future of our fallen world was at stake; thus, the initial silence to the strong angel’s question, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” made the apostle grieve.

But his mourning was interrupted. The elder points to “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” which is a characteristic of Christ who has the authority and strength of a king. Jacob, when blessing his son Judah, prophetically described his lineage—from which the Messiah was foretold to be born—as a “lion’s whelp.” (See Genesis 49:9, 10.)

So also, Christ is “the Root of David,” meaning that He is not only from the lineage of this mighty king of Israel but actually preceded David. Calling Jesus a “branch” of David would suggest that Christ came after David. But, in fact, Jesus was the one who created man.

In the great war between good and evil, only the divine Son of God could be victorious over Satan, for He alone could vindicate the character of God. At Calvary, Jesus became as “a lamb as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6).

Jesus, may I never weep over my future destiny for You have conquered my enemy and secured my salvation. Thank you!

For Further Study: Isaiah 11:10; Matthew 21:9; Matthew 22:41–45

Key Bible Texts

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. (Revelation 5:4 KJV)