Lion and Lamb

Lion and Lamb

“But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’ And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.’”

The angel spoke of the Lion of the tribe of Judah of the root of David who had overcome and was now able to open the scroll and the seven seals. Then John saw a Lamb that stood there as though it had been slain. That must have been a surprise to John; but then he saw the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders with their harps fall down before the Lamb, saying with a loud voice, “‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’”

“Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh . . . .” Rom. 1:3.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . . .” Rom. 7:18.

“Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh . . . .” Rom. 8:3.

“Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?—‘I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.’” Isa. 63:1-8.

Edom is Esau, a type of the flesh. Gen. 25:30. Who came up from the flesh and has overcome all the sin that dwells there? All the misery you can see in the world which corrupts people is caused by sin in the flesh. Who has overcome envy, selfish ambitions, fornication, greed, etc.? Gal. 5:19. “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” It was the Lion of Judah. This was the battle He fought in the days of His flesh. This was the hidden life with God. By living this life, He learned obedience by the things He suffered. Heb. 5:7-10.

No one knew what that battle was all about. No one could support Him. He lived His life from day to day in the family and at work until He was 30 years old. He met these enemies in Edom by way of temptation and sufferings. He had a day of vengeance in His heart in order to redeem the people, and He overcame sin as the Lion of Judah. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14; Heb. 2:10-11. That is why He could be slaughtered as a Lamb without spot, and that is why He could redeem us from our corrupt conduct which we have inherited from our forefathers. 1 Pet. 1:18-19.

“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” “For you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation . . . .”

Now we are called to follow in His steps who committed no sin, who did not revile again when He was reviled, etc. (1 Pet. 2:21-24) to follow Him by suffering in the flesh in order to cease from sin, that we should live the rest of our time in the flesh for the will of God. 1 Pet. 4:1-2. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” 1 Pet. 3:18.

All of us have this Edom; and if we do not know how to be a lion in Edom, we cannot be a lamb that is made alive in the spirit in order to lead people to God. Jesus’ life can only be revealed in our bodies if the dying of the Lord Jesus is active in our bodies. 2 Cor. 4:10-11.

The lion of Judah overcomes sin in the flesh, but the lamb loves his enemies and blesses those who curse him; he does good to those who hate him and prays for those who persecute him. Matt. 5:44. “Saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’”