What sort of Lion was Jesus Christ? He was a Lamb-like Lion. The Lion of Judah conquered because He was willing to act
the part of a Lamb. He came into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday like a King on the way to a throne, and He went out of Jerusalem on Good Friday like a Lamb on the way to the slaughter. He drove out the robbers from the Temple like a Lion devouring its prey. And then at the end of the week He gave His majestic neck to the knife, and they slaughtered the Lion of Judah like a Lamb. So He conquered sin and death and Satan not just because He was a Lion, but because He was a Lamb-like Lion.
But not only is He a Lamb-like Lion. He is also a Lion-like Lamb. Revelation 5:6: “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns…”
Notice two things. First, notice that the Lamb is standing. It is not slumped in a heap on the ground as It once was. It had been slain. But now It is standing — standing in the innermost circle next to the throne.
Second, notice that the Lamb has seven horns. A horn is a symbol of strength and power throughout the book of Revelation (12:3; 13:1; 17:3 & 12) as well as in the OT (Deuteronomy 33:17; Psalm 18:2; 112:7). And the number seven signifies fullness and completeness.
So this is no ordinary Lamb. He is a Lion-like Lamb. Look at Revelation 6:16 where men call to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” And look at Revelation 17:14 where the final enemies of God fight against Christ: “they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings.” In other words, He is a Lion-like Lamb.
So I conclude by stressing the main point: since Jesus is not merely a simple thing like a lion or like a lamb, but is a Lion-like Lamb and a Lamb-like Lion, therefore He is admirable and excellent and worthy to take the scroll and open its seals and bring this world to an end for the glory of His name and the good of His ransomed people.
And you can be among that number if you trust Him as your Lamb, and submit to Him as your Lion, and join the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders and the millions of angels to worship the King of kings with all your heart. (JOHN PIPER)