Jesus – the Lion and the Lamb

Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb.

“… 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 open the book and its seven seals.”  6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.”  (Rev 5 v 5 – 6)

Jesus, the Lamb that was slain

Probably one of the most well known passages in the Old Testament is found in Isaiah 53 v 7 “…like a Lamb that is led to slaughter, like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”  This scripture paints a picture of the promised Messiah who would willingly undergo great affliction, without retaliating and fighting back, hence referring to Him as a lamb that was slain (Rev 5 v 12).

This begs the question how the Creator of the universe can be overcome by mere mortals?  Unless, this was part of God’s plan, all along, as was prophesied by the men of old.  The “lamb without defect” (Lev 14 v 10), was a type of Christ, blameless and innocent, that was sacrificed as a sin offering and reflects in John 1 v 29 where he says, “behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” 

Those who lived before Christ, had to atone for their sins through sacrificial offering.  Without the shedding of blood there could be no forgiveness of sins (Heb 9 v 22) and it was only the privilege of the High Priest to enter into the Holy of Holies on behalf of the people.  The shedding of blood symbolized one’s cleansing, yet sin could never be taken away completely (Heb 10 v 11).  In order for us to be made righteous, God had to become a man, in the form of Jesus, who knew no sin. Not only to bear our sins, but to become sin (2 Cor 5 v 21). 

Jesus, the conquering Lion (of Judah)

From a suffering servant, a Lamb that was slain, to a conquering Lion, the only One who was worthy to “open the book and the seven seals.”  It was prophesied that He would be victorious over sin, not only on the cross,  but also victorious over death after Satan’s final defeat.  The above, future events, still to take place, gives us hope for the difficult times that lie ahead.

The Lion symbolizes strength and protection. What better way to describe the Person of Jesus – King of kings and Lord of lords – powerful and majestic.  Just as David descended from the line of Judah, so also, Jesus was born from the line of David, as it was prophesied in Isaiah 11 v 1, while Jeremiah wrote that God would “…raise up for David a righteous branch“, “The Lord of righteousness” (Jeremiah 23 v 5 – 6).

For He came into the world, firstly to redeem and not to condemn, while a time will come when He will sit on the judgement seat and we will give account of our deeds.  Do not be fooled into thinking Christ will return as the suffering servant, the lamb that was slain.  Instead He will come to judge both the righteous and the wicked.

Behold the great and awesome (terrible) day of the Lord (Joel 2 v 31), when He will return “like a thief in the night”, and it will be better for us if we were rather cold or hot, but if we are found to be lukewarm, He will spit us out from His mouth.  The only way to escape the eminent judgement and overcome satan and his forces is through the blood of the lamb (Rev 12 v 11). 

Jesus, the victorious Lion will be triumphant because of what Jesus, the Lamb has already done on the cross. 

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, Life Application Study Bible, unless stated otherwise. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation”