The Paradox of the Lion and The Lamb

The Lion and the Lamb – The Paradox

INTRODUCTION

A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement that is nonetheless true. “Paradox” comes from Greek and means “contrary to expectation, belief, or perceived opinion.”

Q. When we hear these two words used together, what comes to mind?

We want to look at Jesus as the Lion and the Lamb. These two animals obviously have different types of characteristics.

The Lion has power, strength and commands respect

The Lamb lacks confidence, is weak and fearful. Direct opposite of the lion.

Jesus is both the conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb who was slain. The Lion and the Lamb are descriptions of two aspects of the nature of Christ.

The Lion: What sort of Lion was Jesus? He was a Lamb-like Lion. The Lion of Judah conquered because he was willing to take the part of a Lamb. He came into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday like a King on the way to a throne, and he went out of Jerusalem on Good Friday like a Lamb on the way to the slaughter.

Revelation 5:4 – ‘So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.’

If God were to open the scroll himself without any mediator, without any go-between, and deal directly with sinful man, we would all be consumed and there would be no salvation at all. First, that God is a God of love because he will not open the seals of history without the hands of a Savior.

If there is no one found who is worthy to open the scroll, then there will be no triumph for the gospel, no marriage supper with the Lamb, no new heaven and new earth, no eternal life. Only weeping. We would be of all men most miserable.

Suddenly in verse 5 - But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose[b] its seven seals.”

Once you hear this kind of introduction, who or what would you expect to see?

The Lamb: In Verse 6: "And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns."

The Lamb appears. He alone is worthy to open the scroll that recounts God’s story of redemption because he was slain, and with his blood purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (vv. 6-9).

Notice that the Lamb has seven horns. A horn is a symbol of authority, strength and power throughout the book of Revelation (12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 12) as well as in the OT (Deuteronomy 33:17, Psalm 18:2; 112:7). And the number seven signifies fullness, completeness and perfection – when He said it is finished on the cross.

Actually, a lamb (baby sheep) is one of the most prolific, significant biblical symbols. The word first appears in Genesis 22 when Isaac asked his father Abraham, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham responds, “God will provide himself the lamb” (22:7-8).

In one sense, providing a lamb is the theme of the whole Bible. The human race needed a substitute sacrifice. We needed a Savior. Every Old Testament sacrifice foreshadowed the need for an offering. Isaiah 53:7 - “He [Jesus] was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth”. John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Peter reminds us that we are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Because of this, we can worship with the angels: Revelation5:11 - Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

The Paradox - Lessons learnt from Jesus as a lion and a lamb:

1. Humility exalts: Paul explained it in Philippians:

[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him . . . (2:6-9a).

God exalts the Lamb because the Lamb humbled himself and became a man. Nothing will ever make that statement less astounding: God became man. The king became the servant. The Lion became the Lamb.

Therefore, every created being in heaven will be singing, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13).

The Lion gets the victory through the tactics of the Lamb. We conquer by yielding. Hebrews 10:5 - Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’”

2. Righteous Judgement - Even in judgement, He shows mercy. The word judgement sometimes connotes negativity. However, the coming of Jesus shows how God was righteous even in His judgement. Deuteronomy 5:9 - You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. Luke 23:34 - Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” 3. Strength in weakness - Jesus showed this in John 12:27-28. He was troubled and he would have wanted to pray at this time of weakness for God to deliver him from the suffering. Instead, He prayed that God would be glorified and He received an instant answer.

I Cor. 1:22-25 - For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[b] foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

2 Cor 12:9 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

4. Receiving through Giving

The ultimate test of love for God & man is in giving something that we hold so dear. Giving is quite foolish to selfish people. The world’s philosophy is – It is much better to work & work, save, earn all you can, get rich, keep & withhold! Some of the most miserable people on earth are those who take & take. God Himself is the greatest giver (John 3:16). He gave His only son and received Him back in glory and seated at His right hand of power.

5. Gaining through losing (Phil. 3:7-8)

Materialism and love of money have always been the greatest hindrances to a personal living relationship with the Lord. People who are materialistic never have any thoughts of sacrificing & offering anything for Him who died & gave Himself for them. After receiving Christ as Lord & Saviour, we need to accept the fact that we are to live a life of service and sacrifice for Him. Only then can we be truly satisfied. You can gain the whole world but lose your own soul (Mark 8:36; 10:29-30) or like Paul you can lose earthly opportunities, but gain Christ & lay up treasure in heaven!

6. Living through dying (John 12:24)

Jesus was foretelling his death. The corn of wheat that falls to the ground and dies also grows and becomes productive. This is an agricultural and a spiritual principle as well. Death to the old self is the first step to Christian growth and this principle is found in all the NT (Rom. 8:13). Death to the sinful nature means to be willfully against the works of the flesh, the mentality, philosophies, and superstitions of the world. God says that the flesh must be crucified with its sinful lusts (Gal. 5:24). The more you die to SELF the more CHRIST is seen in you! John the Baptist said that Christ must increase, and we must decrease! (John 3:30). 2 Cor 5:15 – ‘and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again’.

7. Finding through losing (Matt. 10:39)

People try to find the meaning of life in earthly pursuits, in trying to succeed & prosper, & in trying to enjoy their material possessions – only to find out too late that nothing on earth really satisfies the soul. Friend, without Jesus… life is meaningless for Jesus is the very essence of life.

8. Servant Leadership: In Matthew 23:11 Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be greatest, should be everyone’s servant.” We reign by serving. Matthew 20:26 - Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Conclusion: Jesus is worthy because He has conquered sin and death at the cross. The cross was the ultimate victory of God over the forces of sin and evil. The blood that was shed on the cross gives the cross its efficacy and power. Without the blood, it would be just pieces of wood. Due to the fact that Jesus secured the ultimate victory at Calvary, He is worthy to receive and open the scroll, which contains the righteous judgment of God.