Lion and Lamb

Lion and Lamb

In the Scriptures, Jesus is called the “Lion of Judah,” the “Lamb of God” who bears the sins of the world and the “Lamb” that was slain.

In the power of these strong, naturally contrasting characteristics, Jesus conquered the flesh, the world, and the power of Satan.

Jesus was mightier than the mightiest and more humble and meek than the meekest. He overcame everyone and everything, and He consecrated a new and living way through the flesh. This is where the mightier than the mightiest and the weakest are united; the Lion and the Lamb are revealed in Jesus’ person. The way was barred, but Jesus opened it up for us, and now we can enter the Holiest. Heb. 10:19-20.

We can say that God’s way has two edges and two gutters. From these gutters come those who are willing to be saved and who believe in victory over sin. They are led onto the way by continuing to walk in victory until they walk in the midst of the paths of righteousness.

Out of the one gutter come those who are strong spirits (Isa. 46:12), and out of the other gutter come those who are weak spirits, the fearful and cowardly.

All flesh has corrupted its way, and the Scriptures have confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Gal. 3:22.

In other words, no one is preferred over another person; everyone has to accept salvation by faith. Nevertheless, the one person’s gifts and characteristics resemble those of a lion, whereas another person’s characteristics resemble those of a lamb.

The strong are unafraid and usually contradict others, and it is easy for them to face other people. The ministry of a prophet—speaking the truth and being unafraid—is not difficult for them. They have a genuine contempt for everything that is cowardly, fearful, and weak. Their greatest battle is to be lowly in their own eyes, to present themselves for the ministry, to suffer and bear without murmuring, and to be humble and meek in heart.

All of us have to suffer death in the flesh in order to be made alive in the spirit, but the one is easier for our spirit to lay hold of; the other is more difficult and requires more of a battle.

The weak spirits are of a mellower disposition, tending to be cowardly. It is easy for them to agree with everyone and be pleasant, but it is difficult for them to stand up to other people when necessary. They are unsteady and give in. It is difficult for them to be firm and decisive, to speak the truth and not be afraid, while being a lion seems to be an insurmountable obstacle.

These highly disparate people are gathered in the church; some distinguish themselves strongly by their characteristics, others are more evened out. By God’s grace, all of them must now be instructed to walk in the midst of the paths of righteousness, to speak, love, and respect each other and judge each other with fairness.

“Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation . . . .” Jas. 1:9-10. This is precisely what all of us need to learn: be an aroma of death to death and life to life. Let the strong glory in their weakness and the weak in their steadfastness and strength.

When the weak and cowardly become solid, firm, and fearless (Jer. 1:17; Ezek. 3:8-9) and unflinching like the lion, and their righteousness becomes like the waves of the sea in strength (Isa. 48:18), then you have good reason to speak about victory.

When the strong becomes humble, merciful, and weak, a bowed soul who sees greatness in the weak person, then he can justly speak about victory.

Then it will happen to us as it is written in Isaiah 48:19: Then your descendants will be like the sand, and the offspring of your body like grains of sand.