Jesus, The Lion, And The Lamb

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.” - Revelation 5:5 (NIV)

If given a choice between the traits of a lion or a lamb, most people would choose the lion without a second thought. I mean who wouldn't want to be strong and courageous over gentle and submissive? It seems like a no-brainer until you realize that Jesus chose both, He was the lion of Judah and the lamb of God.

Jesus, The Lamb of God

We learn about Jesus as the Lamb of God in John chapter 1, just before John baptizes Jesus, he says, “this is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."

We also see Jesus as a lamb in how tender He was, how gentle He was, and how He constantly submitted to the authority of God. Although He was always the lion of Judah, He came to earth as the lamb of God to be slain as a sacrifice for our sins.

As a lamb, He represents perfect peace and saving grace, something the world has always needed. But there's more.

Jesus, The Lion of Judah

The fact that Jesus is also the lion of the tribe of Judah can be found in both the first book of the Bible and the last.

In Genesis 49, Jacob refers to his son Judah and his future tribe as a lion. If you study the lineage of Judah, you will find that Jesus comes from this lineage. Jacob was prophesying at the beginning of the Bible, what would come to pass at the end, the triumph of the lion.

We see Jacob’s prophecy come to pass in Revelation 5. In this chapter, the lion of Judah is declared to have triumphed and is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals. Something only Jesus can do.

Jesus as the Lion of Judah at the end, is a symbol of victory and triumph. It's a symbol of strength and majesty because even though He went through a whole deal of suffering as a lamb, He came out as a roaring lion.

So was He the lamb first, then the lion, or was He both?

Jesus, The Lion, And The Lamb

When it comes to symbolism and prophecy, yes, Jesus' first coming was as a lamb and His second coming will be as a lion.

However, if we look at His life, we will find that He showed traits of both the lion and the lamb while on earth. We saw the lamb in His compassion, gentleness, and sacrifice but we saw the lion as well.

Remember when He flipped over tables at the temple? That's just one example. Jesus showed lion traits all the time. He was strong, courageous, and never backed down from anything He set out to do.

He told the truth without fear and never let His gentleness become a weakness. He was always a lion, but with the heart of a lamb, and He expects us to be the same. Jesus is coming back for a bride that is as gentle as a lamb AND as fierce as a lion because both of them are crucial to the Christian walk.

So today, if you're tired and weary, go to King of kings and Lord of lords. You will surely find comfort in His lamb-like gentleness, and victory in His lion-like protectiveness.

Inspired by the lion and the lamb? Check out our best-selling lion and the lamb pendant here.

Bradley Kellie creates Christian Jewelry to help you share your story, and tell HIS.

It's time to live and wear your Faith- Click Here to see the Bradley Kellie Collection!