God Speaking

“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.”

(Revelations 5: 5)

When I was a child one of my favourite books was called, “Cole’s Funny Picture Book”. It was published in early 1900, and my first glimpse of this book was the one my grandmother kept at her house which had been my father’s when he was a child. My brother and I loved looking at the strange puzzles that you had to look very closely at and suddenly what you thought was very clear, would slowly change as another picture hidden, at first, would appear.  My husband even brought his rather tattered copy with him when we got married! (I think every child we knew had a copy) I decided to investigate my book and the puzzles when similar images of pictures within pictures started to be posted on Facebook.

I discovered to my surprise that one of the most popular images was that of a lion that if you looked very closely, had a lamb secreted inside.  It made me immediately think of what an amazing illustration that was of our Jesus Christ.

“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; and your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub. O Judah….” (Genesis 49: 8 – 9)

The Israelites were promised a mighty, powerful lion that would come from the tribe of Judah. We know that prophesy was fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The other startling fact about our Saviour is that his other image is that of a gentle lamb. How do we equate these two vastly different images with that one perfect person we know as Jesus?

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53: 7) 

When John, the Baptist, sees Jesus approaching him, he cries out;

“…Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1: 29)

When we look at these two amazing images of both strength and humble meekness, we grasp how really, incredible our Lord Jesus is, and how worthy he is of our praise. I love this song that sums it up perfectly

The Lion and the Lamb

Our God is a Lion, the Lion of Judah

He is roaring in power and fighting our battles

And every knee will bow before him

Our God is a Lamb, the Lamb that was slain

For the sins of the world, his blood breaks the chains

And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb

Every knee will bow before Him