Lion and Lamb

https://odb.org/MY/2021/12/29/lion-lamb-savior

It is a unique and special quality of Jesus Christ that He is both Lion of Judah from the lineage of David and Lamb of God that was slain on the cross for the sins of mankind. He is also the Lion of Judah because the Lamb that was slain rose victorious and is alive! Jesus is both mighty, strong and fierce as well as humble and meek. In Revelation 5:5-7, we see that when no one in heaven, on earth or under the earth could open the scroll and look inside; Christ, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb could open the scroll, break its seven seals and look inside it! Praise the Lord! Glory be unto Jesus! As much as Jesus was meek as a lamb when He first came, He will be as fierce as a lion when He comes again the second time!

There is a sense that as believers we must both be a lion and a lamb. Strong and powerful and yet meek and humble. Be assertive as we stand firm in our faith and yet teachable and humble before man and God. When we are strong, we tend to be proud. When we are confident, we tend to look down on others as though we are better than others, above others. Why is that so? There is no need to step on others to project ourselves above others. I think the right way is always to do our best, but never at the expense of others. Even in our self talk, if we are righteous before God, then that’s good. There is no need to compare against or be condescending to others lest we are labelled by Christ like the Pharisees and Scribes, who became haughty as they become righteous. Others need our help and encouragement, not our judgment and contempt.

The other paradox that we face as a Christian is to be as innocent as a dove and yet as sly as a serpent. It is paradoxical because it is seemingly contradictory and yet in real life, practicable because we have Christ in us. I think it just simply means we should naturally be good to others but not to be simply taken advantage of. Sometimes the latter may be intentional on our part and if so, then it’s all good. Even when we exercise our role to be as sly as a serpent, we do not take the character of the serpent to steal, kill and destroy. Our intention is always for the better of the Kingdom of God, community, church or family – never to take advantage of the other or to harm or cause distress. Win-win is thus the best outcome always with win-lose to be avoided if possible.

As Jesus is both Lion and Lamb, we could likewise be both lion and lamb, and dove and serpent. Strong and yet meek. Fierce and yet humble. Assertive yet teachable. Innocent and yet cunning. Pure and yet sly.