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“Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda…and I beheld, and lo, in the midst…stood a Lamb as it had been slain” (Revelation 5:5-6).
It might seem strange to us to read of the Lord Jesus being described as both a Lion and a Lamb. We can scarcely think of two animals that are so different from one another. The lion is sometimes called “the king of beasts,” for rarely will any other animal dare to attack it. It is a beast of prey that readily attacks and kills other animals. The lamb, on the other hand, is a docile animal that does not resist even when it is taken away to be slaughtered, and it is utterly defenceless against a predator.
The Lord Jesus has both characters, for when He suffered for sin, He “opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7), but submitted to suffering and death so that our sins could be taken away. Even in heaven, when He is the One who reigns over all things, we will still see the marks that show us how He suffered for us.
However, He will also come in power and glory to judge this world, and to set up His kingdom. When He comes at that time, He will come as a Lion, and none will be able to resist Him. Men may laugh and scoff at God’s claims today, but when the Lord Jesus appears in judgment, all will be compelled to fear and honor Him. What a privilege we have to honor and praise Him now!
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