Topic: Lion of Judah is a Lamb
Revelation 5 discusses the only one in heaven and earth who is worthy to open the scroll, who is described as a lion, the one who is a descendant of David, the great warrior King, who extended the borders of Israel further than anyone else. The one who is described as having triumphed.
John builds up this great picture in your mind, of a great warrior. Someone great and powerful who is mighty in battle. Then in verse six, John switches the picture from a lion to a lamb. Not a great and powerful lion who takes down his prey on the hoof, but a meek lamb who eats grass. Not only is a lamb described when you are expecting a lion, but then the lamb has been killed. We’re expecting a victorious lion but instead we get a lamb who has been killed, which would seem to indicate defeat rather than victory. It’s not really who we are expecting.
The Lamb
While references to the Lion of Judah are scarce, references to lambs in the Old Testament are plentiful. The lamb was one of the most common sacrificial animals and every other chapter in Leviticus and Numbers seems to be describing a lamb for this sacrifice or that festival. In 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings, you find that so many hundred lambs were sacrificed with several thousand bulls and various other animals to celebrate great victories or to dedicate the temple or for some other reason.
In the New Testament, John the Baptist sees Jesus and tells his followers to behold the Lamb of God. John, the disciple, states the crucifixion of Jesus to take place while the priests are preparing the Passover lambs in the temple (John 19:14). Just in case we didn’t grasp it by now, Paul says that Jesus is our Passover Lamb and Peter describes Jesus as the Lamb without blemish or defect.
Revelation talks about the Lamb who was slain. Jesus is the one who died to cleanse us from sin, like the Old Testament sacrifices but was also the Passover Lamb who died so that we don’t have to. Yes, we will die physically if Jesus doesn’t return first. But Jesus died so that it would not be the end and we would not die spiritually. Jesus—the lamb who was slain. Not the lamb who is dead, but the lamb who was slain. Jesus is no longer dead but rose again.
So, what are we to make of this great conquering lion who turns out to be a lamb who was killed? This apparent reversing of what we might expect is at the very heart of the gospel. This lion who was a lamb won a great victory over sin and death. The victory was won by the death of the Lamb.
The Lion is the Lamb. It might not be what we were expecting but Jesus is the Lion of Judah. Jesus is the only way to the Father. Jesus is the great ruler who has a right to rule over all the world. He was the conqueror who had won a great victory over death.
Jesus is the only one who provides the joy of salvation to you. Jesus is the only one worthy to be praised (Revelation 5:12).
See you Sunday!
Dr. Scott Kallem