Quite possibly the best thing my oldest daughter, Dayton, has ever sent me is this picture of a domestic cat wearing a lion’s mane. Yeah…I’m easy to please. But just look at him there – wearing that mane like it’s just what he’s supposed to do. His eyes flash with confidence. He’s not the least bit unsettled. He’s not confused about who he is – there’s no identity crisis here. He’s a cat, and he knows it. He also knows he hails from the same biological family as the King of the Jungle. And so he dons the synthetic mane with pride and conviction of who he is on the inside.
The Alpha
Lions are majestic creatures. Revered throughout history. They are beautiful and fierce, strong and courageous, mighty and bold. They have no natural predators. They fear nothing. The lion is an apex animal…an Alpha.
The Bible references lions many times, 154 to be exact (KJV), in both positive and negative terms. They are used in a variety of contexts. Here are just a few:
- As the Righteous (Proverbs 28:1)
- As the devil (1 Peter 5:8)
- As the judgement of God (Hosea 13:6-10)
- As enemies (Psalm 22:11)
- As being cared for by God (Job 38:39-41)
Jesus came to this world and lived here among us as a lamb, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), but a roaring lion is inside Him. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, (Revelation 5:5).
The tribe of Judah was the family line from which Jesus came. He perfectly fulfilled the prophecy of the lineage of the foretold Messiah. A lineage in which His earthly ancestor, Judah, was called a young lion, (Genesis 49:8-10; Isaiah 11:1-5; 2 Samuel 7:12-15). All this explains what John wrote in Revelation 5. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
And Omega
It can’t be overlooked that while He walked among men, Jesus lived as a lamb.
Sheep are not exactly majestic. They aren’t among the highly revered in the animal kingdom. They are beautiful, but they are meek and mild-mannered, innocent and lovable, gentle and harmless. Every other animal is a natural predator of sheep. They fear everything. Sheep are unique in the fact that they are completely defenseless, making them totally dependent on their shepherds. As a prey animal, they are at the bottom of the food chain…the Omega.
Jesus’ entire life was defined by His gentle nature, Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, (Matthew 11:29).
He was completely pure at heart – innocent, He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God, (2 Corinthians 5:21).
His love for the whole world and for His Father was unconditional and overflowing, As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love…This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends, (John 15:9 & 12-13).
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do, (John 14:31).
As the supreme sacrifice, He stood completely defenseless before His accusers, While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed,(Matthew 27:12-14).
His very life, wholly dependent on the Father, For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me, (John 6:38).
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed, (John 5:19-20).
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt, (Matthew 26:39).
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?…And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost, (Mark 15:34 & 37).
What Does This all Mean?
The great duality in the nature of Jesus needs to be examined very closely. There is a sharp contrast here between the human and the Divine. It would serve us well to understand those differences and to know why God chose it to be so.
I see this as a powerful statement of the way we Christians are to live…as lambs. Just as Christ did. Be gentle and meek. Treat others in the same manner. Stay humble and lowly; know where your blessings have truly come from. Live dependent on the Father, going to Him for all things. Listen to His voice. Go where He leads you. Let God defend you and protect you. Cast all your fears and anxieties on Him. With the Lord as your Shepherd, you shall not want, (Psalm 23).
But, oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, know now and never forget that a mighty lion lives inside you! His roar is the loudest and most powerful of all the beasts. His power is unbearable to all who come before Him. His majestic glory is sovereign over all. He is ferociously beautiful – feared and admired.
In our Christian-walk, we should live as lambs while letting the lion inside give us strength, courage, and the boldness to carry out the Great Commission as Jesus commanded.
In Closing
The very first mention God intended to deliver redemption to man (through Jesus) is in Genesis 3:15. When God announces punishment to Adam & Eve, He says to the serpent:
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
The seed of woman (Jesus) delivers a crushing blow to the head of Satan. The heel of Jesus will be bruised. This is the word of God, and He references the coming crucifixion of Christ where His blood is spilled and He overcomes death. What a glorious, glorious event! In studying this verse, I was a bit overwhelmed when I realized that lions don’t walk on their heels.
Let me say that again…Lions don’t walk on their heels.
For those in the back: LIONS DON’T WALK ON THEIR HEELS!
Ha ha! You gotta just grin a little at that one. Jesus will return as the Lion of Judah, and that old serpent, the devil, can’t even touch Him. Makes me want to jump and shout and sing “Hallelujah!” Oh how I wish I could hear the people shout, “Amen!”
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, (Revelation 22:13).
Jesus Christ is the Lion and the Lamb.
Question to Ponder
In your life right now, which character of Jesus resonates with you more…as the Lamb or as the Lion? Please share your response in the comment section or email me, and I would love to know how so, if you don’t mind sharing.
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