​Lamb, Shepherd, Lion

Revelation 7:15-17 “Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat 17 because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
 
BECAUSE the New Testament repeatedly refers to Jesus as the Lamb, we readily accept this image. We can understand to some degree he is the sacrificial Lamb, who has died on a cross. But this image would be very difficult for a culture that herds sheep. For centuries, many cultures have raised sheep for meat and sacrifice to God or other cult gods. In addition, sheep are essentially helpless to care for themselves. A lamb has no mind of its own and will follow other sheep even to its own destruction. Shepherds are necessary to keep sheep alive.
   How then does the image of Jesus as the Lamb of God correspond with Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Lion of Judah? Why would the Father reveal Jesus as a Lamb, not a Shepherd or a Lion, at the center of Heaven’s authority?
   In the context of the passage, those who have been martyred surround the throne. They have been as lambs taken to the slaughter. But now they are in the presence of the triumphant Lamb of God. Jesus, the Lamb, reminds the redeemed martyrs that God has required no more of them than he was willing to give. Jesus has given himself entirely to suffering, sacrifice and death. The Lamb illustrates Jesus has walked earth’s roads, faced scorn and unbelief. He has been mocked, threatened and afflicted. The Lamb knows your needs, your sufferings and your joy because he has experienced a suffering life that ended in his triumphant resurrection and ascension to Heaven’s throne.
   The sacrificed Lamb then becomes the Shepherd. Risen from the grave, he knows the way out of death and into life. Jesus has walked the true pathway of salvation, and we can trust his leading.
   See, also, the image of a tent to shelter you. He will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. This is the Good Shepherd caring for his faithful followers. God has promised this also in Isaiah 33:20 Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken. Hunger, thirst and discomfort will be in the past because the Father has sacrificed the Lamb, and the Shepherd leads us to victory.  
   Jesus, the Lamb and the Shepherd, will then come in power and glory one day as the Lion of Judah. His power will judge the world and save the church into the New Creation.
   These three images of Jesus illustrates God’s complete character to serve his beloved creation in sacrifice, leadership and power.  
 
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you chose humility and weakness to make us pure before you in Heaven. Thank you for leading us into your salvation. We trust your power to bring all events to their final victory in your name. Amen.