Jesus, depicted here as the Lamb, with his holy Bride, the Church

The Lion and the Lamb

By Helen Jesze, 8^th September 2023

“Then one of the [twenty-four] elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look closely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome and conquered! He can open the scroll and [break] its seven seals.”

Rev. 5:5 AMP

“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne … He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb … And they sang a new song, saying:

 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain,
 and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and
 language and people and nation.” 
 

Rev. 5:6-9 NIV

One of the presents given to me for my 80th birthday this year, was this beautiful painting, which I have hung on my landing, at the top of the stairs. It did not take hours to paint, but had been painted during a Praise and Worship session, at a Christian conference, an expression of what the Holy Spirit was showing to this talented artist. Yes, Jesus is indeed known as the Lion as well as the Lamb.

John the Baptist called him, “The Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” His sinless blood, offered on the cross has the ability to wash away every stain of sin Mankind can commit, and break the power of that sin over us, if we will ask him to do this. All the myriad sacrifices offered up before Calvary could only ‘cover’ sin and were a foreshadow of God’s matchless Lamb, his Son, Jesus Christ, who would pay the required penalty once and for all. How grateful I am that Jesus has paid this price for me; he was not a martyr but he willingly laid down his life for us!

In Revelation 4, the Apostle John describes how he saw a door opened in Heaven, and a voice like a trumpet proclaimed that he would be shown things to come. He was immediately taken up in the Spirit and shown a majestic Figure on a throne, and the seven Spirits of God. Twenty-four elders and many beasts gave constant glory and praise. Then in the next chapter, John tells of a book with seven seals in the right hand of God, and a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, asking who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals. No man was found worthy to open the book or to look at it.

John wept because of this and then we read in the above verses, what happened. One of the elders assured him that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah was worthy to do this! The lion is known as the King of Beasts, and the Messianic Line was from the Tribe of Judah. That is why Jesus is often called “The Son of David”, and here, the “Root of David”. He is indeeed, the King of all kings! Then it goes on to say that John saw a “Lamb as though it had been slain” who came and took the book, and was able to break it open.

This shows clearly that Jesus is depicted as the Lion of Judah and as the Lamb that was slain – one and the same Person. Years ago we used to sing a chorus: “For the Lion of Judah shall break every chain and give us the victory again and again.” How true! This ‘Lion’ is still breaking seals and chains today over our lives if we will ask him and trust him to do this! It seems that very often as Christians, we tend to think of Jesus more as a gentle Lamb, but do not recognise, or have forgotten that he is also a mighty Lion!

In 1 Peter 5:8, in the AMP version we read:

“ Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8

Satan, our enemy, is always imitating God and this verse shows us that he prowls around like a lion, looking for someone he can spiritually devour or destroy. He is not a lion, but if we are not vigilant and on the watch, he can attack or wound us.

I believe the Lord wants us to let loose the Lion of the Tribe of Judah on our behalf, to overcome this ‘fake lion’ who is prowling round. Although lions are so strong and their roar can be heard up to eight kilometres, yet they still have some enemies and animals which can overcome them. But our Lion of the Tribe of Judah cannot be overcome! He has defeated his and our greatest enemy, Satan, taking the keys of Death and Hell from him, because he was the Sinless One, the Lamb offered up for us, and his blood sets us free.

In this painting, there is a lion and a bride. This is depicting Christ and his Church. In Revelation 19:7+8 we read: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (KJV)

All of us who are a born-again Christian, part of his world-wide Church, are also part of his Bride! The marriage-supper is being prepared, our wedding- clothes have been supplied by our Bridegroom, and it will be a time of rejoicing when we see and are joined to Him on that day!