NIV Adventure Bible Life of Jesus Activities | Page 3

devotions
Topic: Jesus’ Attributes
Scripture: Revelation 5:5-6
Lion and Lamb
One of the elders said to me, “… See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of
David, has triumphed.…” Then I saw a Lamb.
—Revelation 5:5–6
introduction
Let’s pretend you’re an author writing a novel. You’re trying to think of a good way to
describe your characters—how they look, how they act, what kind of personality they
have. You want to do it in a way that’s interesting but will also quickly show readers what
the characters are like. So instead of writing something like, “He was large and strong,”
you decide to write, “He was an ox.” And instead of writing, “She was very stubborn and
uncooperative,” you write, “She was a mule.” This is called a metaphor.
Jesus sometimes used metaphors when he talked about people. He once referred to a man
as a “fox” because the man was cunning and sly. He called the Pharisees “snakes” because
they were loathsome and dangerous. What’s more, the Bible uses metaphors to describe
Jesus! These metaphors help us understand who Jesus is and what he is like.
Today’s devotion is based on Revelation 5:5–6, in which the apostle John wrote, “One of the
elders said to me, ‘… See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.…’
Then I saw a Lamb.” The devotion is called “Lion and Lamb.”
devotion
Gavin shielded his eyes against the blizzard. Suddenly Bryce slumped in the snow. “Just
leave me.”
Gavin shouted, “No!” Pulling his brother up, Gavin dragged him forward.
Then he saw their house through the snow. And he heard their mom call, “Lunchtime!”
Gavin dropped Bryce, and they raced to the door, laughing. Their mom said, “I’m glad
you’re enjoying your ‘arctic expedition.’ It may be your last one this winter. The month of
March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.”
Bryce kicked off his boots. “What does that mean?”
Smiling, his mom replied, “It means that when March arrives, it’s wintry and powerful, like
a lion. But by the time it leaves, it’s springlike and mild, like a lamb.”
Jesus is a lion, strong and mighty. He’s also a lamb, gentle and meek. You can see both his
strength and his meekness in John 18:1–13. With three words, Jesus knocked a bunch of
soldiers to the ground. Yet he let them arrest him so he could die to save the world. When
you worship Jesus, remember that he is the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God.
Copyright © 2011 by Zondervan
Material taken from the
NIV Adventure Bible Book of Devotions