The Lion or the Lamb?

Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Rev 5:5-6

The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David are Jewish titles. They refer to Old Testament prophecies that predict that one from the tribe of Judah and from the family of David would at last rule over the earth. These titles refer to the King of the Jews, the very title Pilate inscribed on the Cross of Jesus. The King of the Jews! He is the One who triumphs by his death and is able to bring about God's kingdom on earth.

But when John turns to see the conquering Lion of Judah, what he sees is the slain Redeemer of the world! He expected to see a Lion but what he saw was a Lamb, with the marks of death still upon him. Those marks of death are still upon the Lamb, and will be for all eternity. In these two symbols, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb that was slain, John sees the uniting of two themes. Lions are a symbol of majesty, power, rule and authority. Lions conquer; lambs submit! Lions roar; lambs die! We are introduced here to the One who conquers by submitting. The symbols tie together the earthly promises of Israel and the heavenly calling of the Church.

This uniting of the Lion and the Lamb is the basis for C. S. Lewis' novels, The Chronicles Of Narnia. A great lion, Aslan, rules in majesty and roars in triumph, but he does so because he submits to being put to death by the evil characters controlled by the White Witch, and at last the kingdom of Narnia is freed from its bondage to winter, and the springtime of the world arrives. As the Lion of Judah, Jesus will rule the world with a rod of iron. As the Lion of Judah, our Lord reigns, but if anyone is weak and faltering, helpless or hopeless, he or she will find a compassionate Savior, because this Lion is also a Lamb! As the Lamb of God, he is filled with mercy and grace, but if any should presume upon that grace and live a rebellious or defiant life, let him beware, because this Lamb is also a Lion!

According to John's vision, this Lamb has seven horns. Horns in Scripture speak of power, and seven is the number of fullness. So the Lamb has fullness of power on the basis of his death. Jesus himself declared, All power in heaven and on earth is given unto me (Matthew 28:18 KJV). The seven eyes speak of full intelligence, discernment, an understanding of all the conflicting movements of human history. These seven eyes are the seven spirits of God, which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. He understands everything. He, therefore, is the One worthy to take the scroll and remove the seals.

Lord Jesus, thank you for being both the lion of Judah and the lamb that was slain. You are worthy of my heartfelt worship. Amen.