One of the things that intrigues me as I read the Bible are the paradoxes. They are not contradictions, although they may seem it on the surface, but in actuality, both things are absolutely true about Jesus. For example, Jesus is God and Jesus is man. God With Us! Both are totally true and awesome truths of Scripture. Another paradox is that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith, or that He is the Alpha & Omega, the beginning and the end, or the Root and Offspring of David. Today’s name is really 2 names and a beautiful paradox that show us a picture of Jesus’s nature, deity, and love for all of us.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is called the Lamb of God. The Bible also tells us that He is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Lion and Lamb. They don’t seem to have much in common. They might even be considered to be opposites, of a sort. Hence the paradox! But in the whole of Scripture, the beauty inherent in these names is evident. They tell us who Jesus is.

He is the Sacrificial Lamb of God. The Perfect Lamb. The Atonement for our sins.

All through the old Testament a perfect blood sacrifice was required for the Israelites sins to be covered. A Lamb without blemish or spot. This was a picture pointing straight to Jesus who would one day come and sacrifice His own self as the final and only real blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” John the Baptist declared of Him in John 1:29

Isaiah 53:7 says “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not his mouth.” Jesus the sacrificial Lamb of God.

Genesis 49:9-10 give us the first reference to the other image: “Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey my son, thou art gone up: He stooped down, he couched as a Lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah…” This is a Messianic prophecy of Jesus who was a descendant of Judah.

In this passage, the two images are together: Revelation 5:5-6 tells us “Weep not: Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain…”

Both images, together. Contradiction? No! Jesus!

Two aspects of our Lord’s nature; both absolutely true and complimentary. Our Lamb who gave His blood to atone for our sins, and “without the shedding of [His] blood we could have no forgiveness” -Heb. 9:22b
Our Lion of Judah, our conquering King of Kings, from whom “the Scepter will never depart.” These 2 names give us one of the most powerful composite images of our Savior. The Lion and The Lamb.

Who can resist either of these 2 beautiful images? We are drawn to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. We are mesmerized and in fearful awe and respect of the Lion of Judah – our Conquering King! But together? Its like an explosion of Love & Deity.

Every knew shall bow before Him.

I have already done so.   Have you?

 

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