The Chronicles of Narnia has spawned a variety of discussions about allegories, Scriptural and otherwise, and some of them center on the apparent contradiction of Jesus Christ being personified as both a lion and a lamb.
This topic is on my mind as I’m nearing the end of another “Read Through the Bible in a Year” regimen, and thus am groping my way through the book of Revelation. In a remarkable “coincidence” (funny how “coincidences” of Scriptural relevance seem to pop up everywhere when one actually reads the Bible), the reading for today is the fifth chapter of Revelation. I was going to focus only on verses 5 and 6, but the entire chapter is too amazing to neglect any part of it:
1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.
4I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
12In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
14The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
There we have it in two consecutive verses: references to Jesus as both conquering Lion — the Lion of Judah, to be exact — and sacrificial lamb. Yet even as a lamb, He is a conqueror, overcoming death to bring life.
The debate over the nature and character of Jesus is, ultimately, an exercise in futility, as we have neither the intellect nor the vocabulary to understand or express the truth. After that realization, the only fitting response that remains is the one modeled above by the elders: fall down and worship.
Somehow, I’m perfectly content with that conclusion.
By the way, if you’ve never read through the Bible, it’s something I highly recommend. I know I write about this every year about this time, but I can practically guarantee you that if you stick to it and get it done…you’ll want to do it again.
Oh, man, Eric … I think I got all “Narnia’d out” in the discussion over your last post. 🙂
Well, good…’cause Narnia is simply the jumping off point for this post!
In the space of 14 years, I and my little Bible Study Group read through the Bible 6 times and began on the 7th journey through it getting somewhere near half way when we disbanded.
During that time, the Bible became a living entity for myself and I believe, for several others.
Each journey through it brought new discoveries, new insights and new knowledge that could be applied to one’s daily walk with The Lord. The scriptures always seemed to “speak” to one individual or another and they in turn, shared the message with everyone else.
I have never regretted the time I invested in reading, studying or meditating on its contents.
I know little or nothing at all about Narnia but I will see the movie when it comes out on DVD.
Clarence, I echo your observations. In fact, I’ve said many times in the past that it’s amazing how much new stuff is added to the Bible each time I read it…and I see and understand things that I’d swear weren’t there the last time! 😉