The Lion and the Lamb

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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It is a solemn thought on which to reflect that it is only by judgment that righteousness and peace can finally be brought to this world. Man has tried many times, down through the ages, to bring about lasting peace, only to find that, at best, the peace is transitory; soon strife and war break out again. It is only when “Thy judgments are in the earth” that “the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isa. 26:99With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9)).
“The Lion”
It is fitting that the Lord Jesus is here referred to as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” The lion is the symbol of strength, and it is mentioned in Proverbs 30:3030A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; (Proverbs 30:30) as “the strongest among beasts, which turneth not away for any.” It is described in Micah 5:88And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (Micah 5:8) as one who “both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.” The Lord Jesus is the only One who can execute judgment with strength and power, represented by the lion.
He is also from the tribe of Judah, for Judah was the royal tribe, and one of the characteristics attributed to Judah is that of being “a young lion” (JND trans.), whose hand will be upon the neck of his enemies. Surely the Lord is the One referred to here, for He is also “the Root of David,” as the One whom David could address as Lord (Psa. 110:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1)). David was a mighty warrior who is not recorded as ever having lost a battle, but his Root is the Lord Jesus Himself. He will appear, not only to judge this world, but also on behalf of His earthly people Israel.
When John had seen the Lord Jesus in chapter 1, he saw One whose appearance and demeanor denoted power and majesty, and so much so that John “fell at His feet as dead” (Rev. 1:1717And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:17)). Thus, when he was privileged to look upon the One who was able to open the book, he might well have expected to see the appearance of the lion displayed. But instead, he sees “a Lamb as it had been slain” (Rev. 5:66And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (Revelation 5:6)). It is true that the Lamb had “seven horns and seven eyes,” which speak, respectively, of perfect strength and perfect intelligence to carry out judgment. But the lamb is the symbol of weakness and submission, not of power. However, the Lord Jesus appearing as “a Lamb as it had been slain” is very instructive for us. In His character as the Lion, He is able to take the book; in His character as the Lamb that has been slain, He is worthy to do so. It is the Lord Jesus who has entered into death and who has defeated Satan, the world and death. It is because He suffered for sin that He has acquired both the right and the power to execute judgment. Another has put it very well:
“The One that prevails as the Lion is the One who first suffered as the Lamb. His power to overcome in opening the book is that He has overcome by going into death. As the Lamb slain He overcame sin and death and the devil. Having overcome as the suffering Lamb, He has acquired the power to overcome every enemy as the mighty Lion.”
The Sacrificial Lamb
Again, here is a most important truth. Our blessed Lord and Savior had the power as God to exercise judgment, but (we speak with all reverence) He could not “take away the sin of the world” (John 1:2929The 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)) or “bring in everlasting righteousness” (Dan. 9:2424Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Daniel 9:24)) unless He went to Calvary’s cross. The question of sin must be settled before a holy God; for this reason, “once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)). Because of all this, He is “worthy to take the book,” and thus He appears as “a Lamb as it had been slain.”
The judgment of sin will eventually be finished and sin forever put away from God’s presence. At that time His character of “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” will no longer be needed. But He will forever appear as “the Lamb of God,” and His wounds will forever remind us that He suffered, not only for us, but to put away sin from this entire universe. Those wounds will draw out our eternal praise.
W. J. Prost