“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” 

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

Jesus is the Lion of Judah; the fierce, powerful, majestic Lion. Jesus is also the Lamb that was slain. 

This is one of the most seemingly contradictory descriptions throughout all of scripture. Top of the food chain. One of the most defenseless creatures you can think of. How can both of these images be talking about the same being and how can that being be the Son of God? The best one word answer: humility. 

Yesterday, I shared about how immeasurably powerful our Lord is. The incredible immensity of His omnipotence is beyond anything we could strain to think of. When He walked on earth people saw a man but when He spoke, whether they knew it or not, they heard the voice of God. Men sought to contain Him, even the disciples at times tried to limit Him, and He would respond in ways that let you know you were on the wrong side of the Lion! 

“Get behind me, Satan.” 

How many times a day does it cross our minds to invite Jesus into our day? How frequently do we seek His input before setting the large and small plans of our lives? And how absurd would it be to approach a Lion with our day planner and let Him know we’ve decided to pencil Him in for 15 minutes after lunch? Do we even have the faintest notion of who it is that we are talking to??? The Christian life is not “inviting Him” into ours but recognizing that every breath in our lungs is His and then seeking to find how He wants us to utilize the next one. This is the proper way to approach the Lion! 

And yet, He is also the Lamb. 

To understand His humility, you have to start to understand the power that is being restrained. He, in His holiness - He who dwells in unapproachable light - chose to take on flesh and walk among His rebellious creation. We get glimmers of that restrained power when we read verses like these: 

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”” 

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

“No one takes my life from me.” 

The lamb was only slain because He chose to be. He chose it before time began. 

I think we can sometimes get comfortable with the Lamb. We love the Lamb. We experience true sorrow at the death of the Lamb and joy at His resurrection, but we must never forget that the Lamb is also a Lion. 

On the other hand, when John laments that there is no one worthy to open the scroll, He is told by the elder that the Lion of the tribe of Judah has come and He is worthy and then, in walks the Lamb that was slain. He is humble because He is the Lion who restrains Himself. He is worthy because He is the Lamb who was slain.