Revelation serves us the Final Act of God’s story, tying up loose ends, bringing all things to a close, and reminding us of the “one who conquers” once and for all. The text primarily does this through layers of symbolism and, among other things, connects important dots from the Church’s past to cryptic allusions of the Church’s future.
One of these brilliant, symbolic moments–where John (the narrator and author of Revelation) ties together images that thread their way through all of scripture–is shown in chapter 5, verses 1-14.
John is beside himself at the beginning of the passage, weeping out of hopelessness and despair. One of the elders assures him that the Lion of Judah will be able to bring hope and save them, but, when He actually shows up, there’s a twist; it’s no lion that appears, it’s a lamb! And not just any lamb, but one that looks like it’s been sacrificed on the altar.
“Hold up, where’s our lion?!”
You can imagine people’s shock and disappointment at this discovery. This was no doubt the response of more perceptive Jews when Jesus showed up (those who were even able to recognize Jesus for what he claimed to be; most missed him entirely, kind of like a joke going completely over someone’s head). That’s because the Jews were expecting a conquering hero who would subdue the Romans with an entourage of bloodthirsty angels, freeing them from suffering by taking out their enemies once and for all.
They didn’t understand that God’s heart is meek, not vengeful. His ways are not our ways, and what he loves is not what we love. What the world values, God “count[s]… as nothing,” so the way he sought to demonstrate his heart to us and save the world was by coming as a Lamb (“whoever has ears, let them hear”).
The lowly carpenter that was born in a stable and died an obscure death on a cross. Not the kind of person who gives “conquering hero” vibes, is he? But this is where God brilliantly subverted expectations. For as a Lamb he came, and as a Lamb he conquered.
The Lion of Judah conquering as a Lamb is meant to symbolize throughout scripture this reality that Jesus as God conquers in a way the world would never have guessed: by embodying sacrifice, selflessness, meekness, and unconditional love. This is the way he saved the world (as no one had ever done before), and it’s also the way he invites His Church to partner with him in doing the same.
Ashley Carr
Teacher