“…John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'” – John 1:29 CSB
The Apostle John records this confirmation from John the Baptist, who preached repentance, pointing to Jesus who would pardon sin by His sacrificial death. John’s gospel declares Jesus as being “… with God, He was God, He did the works of God, for He was the Creator.” Jesus would come into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as a king and would leave that Good Friday as a paschal lamb to slaughter. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). “The Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6 CSB).
Jesus first came as the Lion of the tribe of Judah to die in our place, a Lion-like lamb.
Jonathan Edwards says of Christ’s death. “The devil had, as it were, swallowed up Christ, as the whale did Jonah; but it was deadly poison to him; he gave him a mortal wound in his own bowels. He was soon sick of his morsel, and was forced to do by him as the whale did by Jonah. To this day he is heart-sick of what he then swallowed as his prey” ([Works, vol. 1, p. 685]; desiringgod.org).
The Apostle John witnesses future events as recorded in Revelation. He views the heavenly throne room and One seated on the throne Who receives the scroll (Revelation 5:1-3), which is unable to be opened because none is found worthy. As John begins to weep in despair, an elder says to him, “stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5 NASB). Jesus is worthy because He overcame death thus purchasing the ransom for His people and establishing His right to rule and receive worship.
Revelation declares Jesus will soon come as the Lamb-like lion.
“What sort of Lion was he?” John Piper asks. “The Lion of Judah conquered because he was willing to act the part of a Lamb” (desiringgod.org; March 23, 1986). Revelation 5:6 paints this picture for us. “…between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain. Piper continues, “The Lamb is standing… not slumped… as it had been in death. It is standing in the innermost circle next to God’s throne. This Lamb has seven horns, symbolizing strength and power (Revelation12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 12) and signifying fullness and completeness” (desiringgod.org; March 23, 1986).
We are called to place our trust in this perfect Lamb of God. We bow to Him Who is worthy to receive honor and glory by ending this broken world and creating a new one for His glory and for the good of His people!