Come and SeeSample

The nightmare began in a paradise garden. Ripping man away from God, sin tangled into
everything and brought death along with it. Yet, throughout the Old Testament, we catch
glimpses of hope from a God who is righteous in judgment and still so merciful in love. This is
seen when He rescued the Israelite slaves by telling them to paint their doorframes with the
blood of lambs. Though they were sinners, they were spared by the blood, and death passed over
them. A solution was then provided through the sacrifice of spotless animals. Their blood would
bring temporary forgiveness of sins.

All these moments build throughout Scripture until finally arriving at a hill called
Golgotha, where on a bloody cross, it is now finished. Raised high in victory, both to conquer and to cleanse, is where we find the perfect sacrifice. He died in our place and triumphed over sin.
This is the paradox of the Lion and the Lamb.

Having lived a sinless life, Christ is the spotless lamb that takes away the sin of the
world. Remarkably, His crucifixion took place during Passover week. Around the same time that the
Jews were celebrating the lamb’s blood that saved them for a night, the blood of Christ dripped
down saving, believers for eternal life.

Christ is also the ruling lion. Soldiers tried to twist this by turning His crucifixion into a
mock coronation. However, contempt couldn’t hide the King behind their crown and robe. The
day was dark, but it was a day of victory and not defeat. Lifted high on the cross, King Jesus
became the conqueror of sin; one day every knee will bow before Him.

It is the lamb that brings us into the holy presence of God, and it is the lion that conquers
every foe that still torments. His blood leads us into the throne room where every prayer is heard
and every sin washed away. The only solution to the problem of sin was God, Himself,
becoming our sacrifice. Through His blood we found life, suffering gave way to joy, and the
sacrificial lamb became the victorious lion.

DAILY READING

Read John 19

CHRISTMAS CONNECTION

Watch The Nativity Story or visit a live nativity. Look for traces of the lion and the lamb in the
humble stable filled with sheep and the devoted worship to the newborn king.