Both Lamb & Lion! Rev. 5:5-6 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of

Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in

the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits

of God sent out into all the earth.

We hold in our hands this morning the greatest book ever known!

▪The Bible is not like any other book you will ever read!

▪This is the “only” book ever written that is “God-breathed!”

▸2 Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is God- breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work.

The Bible was written over a time of 1500 years, by 40 different men!▪As a result of this we now have God’s Word &

Will fully recorded for man!

▸2 Pet 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

▸Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Today we will be studying one of the many subjects in this book that is

beyond human reason!“Both Lamb & Lion” as a description!▪It is our prayer & desire that this lesson

will help us to better understand the God of the Bible and to properly know what He is like!

▪On the surface these may seem to be paradoxical in nature, meaning they seem to be absurd & self-contradictory, but are in fact true and complimentary!

I. The Fondness of the Lord!“The Lamb of God!”

▪Let’s begin by reading together (Rev. 5:1- 14) This is one of the greatest throne scenes of heaven!

▸The questions is being asked, “who is worthy?”

▸From v. 5 and ff we see only “one” is worthy!

▸And He is “The Lamb of God!” (6,8,12 & 13)

▪Jesus the only one found worthy!

▸Cf. Act. 4:10-12 “only name!”

The importance of a lamb to the Children of Israel!

▪Ex 29:38-39 "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. "One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight."

▪From sun up to sun down they are to be reminded daily of the offering of a lamb!

▪Jesus was not just “a” lamb, but He was “the” Lamb of God!

▸The once and for all times offering! Heb.10:12

The words of John the Baptist as he sees Jesus coming!

▪John 1:29 & 36 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"

▪This idea of Jesus as the Lamb of God is pointed out many times in the Bible!

▸Act. 8:32-35

▸1 Pet. 1:18-20

II. The Fierceness of the Lord!▪I have always found this next point very

interesting to me! “The Fierceness!”

▪Jesus is “Lion of the tribe of Judah!”

▸Rev. 5:5 cf. With Jn. 1:29 & 36

▸We now have both “Lamb & Lion!”

▪“Behold” the Lamb of God! “Behold” the Lion!

▸This realization must bring about a change in us! Demanded & commanded response

▸Behold = id-oo’ 2nd person imperative!

This title of God as a lion is found throughout the Bible!

▪Lam. 3:10 He has been to me a bear lying in wait, Like a lion in ambush.

▪Hoses 5:14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.

▪Hoses 13:8 I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, And there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.

It is interesting that this same terminology is used for Satan!

1Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring

lion, seeking whom he may devour.

▪Satan is a “crouching lion” hiding in wait, hoping to catch us unparepared!

▪Jesus is a “conquering lion” proudly making His stand!

Jesus is indeed the Lamb, but He is equally the Lion!

We need to understand the fierceness of the Lord! Sin will not go unpunished!

▪2 Th 1:7-9 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

▸Obey Him be forgiven, reject face His fury!

III. The Faithfulness of the Lord!▪Wouldn’t you have liked to see the

change on John’s face in Rev. 5!▸John is 1st “weeping” because no man is

worthy! (Rev. 5:1-4)

▸But, then he is told to “weep not” because there is “one” who is worthy! (Rev. 5:5ff)

▪Jesus has done what none of us could do, remain faithful to the Father!▸Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short

of the glory of God,

▸All but Jesus, both man & God!

The Ministry of Reconciliation!▪2Cor 5:18-21 Now all things are of God, who

has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Even when faced with suffering, Jesus remains faithful to the Father!

(Mt. 26:36-46)

▪"O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

▸Jesus was willing to pay the cost of what God required of us!

▸Jesus was willing to take our place!

▪Have we learned to have this kind of “faithfulness” to God? (Cf. Rev. 2:10)

Conclusion:

▪How amazing it is to serve a God that is both Lamb & Lion!

▪Have you come to know the Lamb that is a Lion? Have you come to believe in Him and trust He with your salvation?

▪If you are here and not yet a child of God, today you have the opportunity to become one!

▪If you are a Christian, then we ask you, “have you been living faithful?”