The Lion and the Lamb. I pick this image because these two concepts are so tightly bound together in the narrative of the Passion we are entering into this coming week. In this image the two blend together and in all the stories Jesus blends the two.
Think about it for a second. On Palm Sunday Jesus rides in to great fanfare. He is exalted as the one who brings peace on earth. But remember that at the end of Luke when he meets opposition he cries out that even the stones would praise him. He then weeps over the destruction of Jerusalem. And he follows that up in all the Gospels by cleansing the temple, upsetting tables, even fashioning a whip. Lion or Lamb?
In the midst of the next week Jesus spends much of his time teaching. One of the greatest teachings comes out of that time, to love God first and to love neighbor as yourself. Yet he also rises to the challenge and beats back the opposition of the teachers and leaders. He speaks of the apocalypse. And he even curses a fig tree. Lion or Lamb?
And of course it all comes to a head as Jesus prays, is arrested, is silent during the trial, but even as he goes to the cross he makes bold pronouncements as he dies. “It is finished!” Lion or Lamb?
Both. So as you enter Holy Week this Sunday, keep this image in mind as you see Jesus blend the Lion and the Lamb.
