The Lion and the Lamb

These are two of the names used in the scriptures to refer to Jesus. And as opposite as they are, these two images both perfectly describe him.

The Lamb

Let's talk about the lamb. It has a huge significance in the bible and is a symbol going back to Genesis in which a lamb was used as a burnt offering.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering? - Genesis 22:7

And, of course, we all remember the story of plagues of Egypt when the Israelites were intersected to smear the blood of an unblemished lamb across their doorposts so their household would be sparred as the angel of the Lord passed through. Also, under Old Testament law that required the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb to cover the penalty of sin, which was death. Jesus was this lamb for us. Through his death and resurrection, he became the pure and perfect sacrifice to atone for ALL of our sin and take it away.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. - John 1:29

John refers to Christ as the Lamb multiple times in the book of Revelation as well. Like verse 22:3 that says: "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him" John also talks about hearing the voice of many angels, thousands of thousands, "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." And in 7:14 he writes "...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

Christ, the perfect and unblemished Lamb of God, was sacrificed for the sin of the world and overcame death, like a triumphant lion, so that we could spend eternity with him.

The Lion

Why is Jesus referred to as the lion of Judah? In Genesis 49:8, Jacob tells his son Judah, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. 9)Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10) The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. These passages talk about the lineage of kings that is to stem from Judah, such as King David. Jesus would then be a descendent of David, which is why Christ is referred to as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

John would then share his vision in Revelation further establishing Jesus as the Lion of Judah. John wept that there was no man worthy to open and read the sealed book. Until verse 5: "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Jesus, the lion, the one who had defied sin and conquered death, is the only one worthy to loose the seals and open the book.

The bible also talks about the strength lions. Proverbs 30:30 says: “A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;” Fierce and majestic, lions are also known as the "king of the jungle" or "king of beasts". Jesus, in his all his majesty, is OUR king; who will one day return as a roaring and conquering lion.

He is powerful and fierce yet gentle and gracious. He truly is our lion and our lamb.