The Lion and the Lamb
March is often said to “Come in like a Lion, and go out like a Lamb.” I suppose that literally means that the beginning of March is winter, and by the end of March spring has sprung! After the desolate darkness and the bitter bite of winter, oh, what hope springtime brings! The promise of bright green grass, warm breezes, and turquoise robin eggs is enough to thaw the harshest winter blues. Spring is the expectation of new life and growth!
As I pondered on the “Comes in like a Lion, and goes out like a Lamb” simile, I couldn’t help but to reflect upon Jesus. The opposite holds true of our Savior. Jesus “Came in like a Lamb, but will return as a Lion!” This innocent, Lamb was blamed unfairly for the sins of this world, in order to pay the price of redemption for mankind.
Jesus, the Lamb of God, was not weak, feeble, or frail. “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” Isaiah 53:7b.
Christ’s silent sacrifice in the face of his accusers was not cowardly. This was the beautiful nature of the Lamb. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13.
Jesus came into this world a sacrificial Lamb, but will return as the Lion of Judah! “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath PREVAILED to open the book. And in the midst of the elders, STOOD a Lamb as it had been slain” Revelation 5:5b- 6b
Jesus has “PREVAILED” over sin, sickness, fear, doubt, sorrow, shame, death, hell, the grave, and Satan himself! Jesus is no longer the passive, silent, reserved, sacrificial Lamb. Notice the scripture says “STOOD a Lamb!” He is not lying down. He is not hanging in the cross. He is not defeated! He is not dead! He is STANDING and alive forever more! Christ is now the courageous, strong, steadfast Lion who STANDS and retreats at nothing!
Jesus paid the price for our Salvation with His lamb sacrifice, allowing us to become his sons and daughters. Will you walk with the Lion in His authority and in His Lion kingship?
Jesus could not have been the Lamb without the authority of the Lion. He was a Lion-like Lamb. Likewise, Jesus could not be the Lion, without the sacrifice of the Lamb. He is a Lamb-like Lion!
Too many Christians today want to be a Lion, only. Yes, there are times when God allows us to walk in His lionized power, to have dominion over this earth. But we must realize that Jesus was never fully Lion without the Lamb.
Everyone wants to be powerful, important, influential, and charismatic. Yet, who wants to be the long suffering, innocent, falsely accused, uncomplaining, forgiving, self-sacrificing Lamb led to the slaughter?
The only way to be truly pleasing to the Lord is to take on both aspects of the nature of Christ. As Christians we cannot be a Lamb without the authority of the Lion. We are called to be Lion-like Lambs. Likewise, we cannot be a Lion, without the sacrifice of the Lamb. We are called to be Lamb-like Lions!
As we celebrate March “Coming in like a Lion, and going out like a Lamb” let us remember both aspects of the nature of Christ. May we walk in His Lamb-like grace and His Lion-like authority!
As I pondered on the “Comes in like a Lion, and goes out like a Lamb” simile, I couldn’t help but to reflect upon Jesus. The opposite holds true of our Savior. Jesus “Came in like a Lamb, but will return as a Lion!” This innocent, Lamb was blamed unfairly for the sins of this world, in order to pay the price of redemption for mankind.
Jesus, the Lamb of God, was not weak, feeble, or frail. “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” Isaiah 53:7b.
Christ’s silent sacrifice in the face of his accusers was not cowardly. This was the beautiful nature of the Lamb. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13.
Jesus came into this world a sacrificial Lamb, but will return as the Lion of Judah! “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath PREVAILED to open the book. And in the midst of the elders, STOOD a Lamb as it had been slain” Revelation 5:5b- 6b
Jesus has “PREVAILED” over sin, sickness, fear, doubt, sorrow, shame, death, hell, the grave, and Satan himself! Jesus is no longer the passive, silent, reserved, sacrificial Lamb. Notice the scripture says “STOOD a Lamb!” He is not lying down. He is not hanging in the cross. He is not defeated! He is not dead! He is STANDING and alive forever more! Christ is now the courageous, strong, steadfast Lion who STANDS and retreats at nothing!
Jesus paid the price for our Salvation with His lamb sacrifice, allowing us to become his sons and daughters. Will you walk with the Lion in His authority and in His Lion kingship?
Jesus could not have been the Lamb without the authority of the Lion. He was a Lion-like Lamb. Likewise, Jesus could not be the Lion, without the sacrifice of the Lamb. He is a Lamb-like Lion!
Too many Christians today want to be a Lion, only. Yes, there are times when God allows us to walk in His lionized power, to have dominion over this earth. But we must realize that Jesus was never fully Lion without the Lamb.
Everyone wants to be powerful, important, influential, and charismatic. Yet, who wants to be the long suffering, innocent, falsely accused, uncomplaining, forgiving, self-sacrificing Lamb led to the slaughter?
The only way to be truly pleasing to the Lord is to take on both aspects of the nature of Christ. As Christians we cannot be a Lamb without the authority of the Lion. We are called to be Lion-like Lambs. Likewise, we cannot be a Lion, without the sacrifice of the Lamb. We are called to be Lamb-like Lions!
As we celebrate March “Coming in like a Lion, and going out like a Lamb” let us remember both aspects of the nature of Christ. May we walk in His Lamb-like grace and His Lion-like authority!