“Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. … He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.” Revelation 5:5-7
The setting of the passage above is a vision of God’s throne in heaven as revealed to John, the Apostle. God is holding a scroll describing his judgment and John is weeping because there was no one found worthy to open the scroll. Then in verse five an elder tells John, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” But then look what happens: a Lion is announced, but a Lamb appears, “looking as if it had been slain” and he proceeds to take the scroll and open it.
The Lion and the Lamb both refer to Jesus. The Lion is announced first, way back in Genesis 49, as the ultimate leader of God’s people and ruler of the nations. This ultimately refers to Jesus and his coming kingdom that will never end. But Jesus comes first as a Lamb, which is how he is announced at the outset of his public ministry by John the Baptist: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
Jesus came first as a Lamb to provide redemption through the sacrifice of himself. But when he comes again it will be as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the conquering king, to rule and reign with his followers forever!
Each day we are one day closer to the coming of the king. Are you ready?
Having begun as a guest speaker in 2005, Dan was appointed Interim Pastor in 2008 and has been serving Maple Root Baptist ever since. As a small group leader and Chaplin for the Connecticut Tigers, Dan has a heart for the lost and the God that saves them.