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