Have you ever heard this before: “Jesus came as a lamb, but will return as a lion." The whole concept comes out of the book of Revelation, where John sees Christ as the lion of the tribe of Judah as well as the lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world.

Not sure about you, but I’ve heard this phrase many times and honestly, I have a hard time processing it. Allow me to explain...

When ones have used this phrase, they’ve attempted to communicate how that Christ, in his first coming, came to extend mercy (lamb), but at his second coming, he won’t be so kind, but will pour out wrath on those who’ve resisted him as Lord and Savior (lion). It’s deeply imbedded in dualism.

In one of his sermons (TikTok videos), mainstream pastor Mark Driscoll follows this line of thought and says, “Jesus came the first time as a lamb; he’s coming the second time as a lion. He came the first time in humility; he’ll come the second time in glory. Everyonin heaven only knows him as lamb; everyone in hell only knows him as lion.” I use this particular quote to demonstrate how prevalent this dualistic thought is in the West, for he’s most certainly not the only one using this to describe the variation of Jesus’ first and second coming. Driscoll, in my opinion, represents some of the theological misconceptions concerning the nature of God in Western Protestantism.

Anyways, on to the reason of why this concept irks me and quite frankly, why I decided to write this blog.

First of all, when someone uses this phraseology (“Jesus came as a lamb, but will return as a lion"), it seems that they’re communicating a change in the nature of God, namely one towards violence and physical aggression; quite simply, one that's contrary to Christ on the cross.

If God does not change, then why do we imagine he's gonna somehow pivot his nature for the sake of retribution towards his supposed enemies, especially when he had every chance to do so on the cross, but chose forgiveness over retaliation?

If we truly believe that God has the ability to switch to a more fierce, violent demonstration, wouldn't the cross and the moments leading up to it have been a great time to release the "lion?" And what about after the resurrection; wouldn’t that have been the most opportune time to prove the haters wrong, especially with a strong arm of correction and punishment? I mean, if all God was after was the shedding of his own blood, and he sweat great drops of it in the garden, simple logic would seem to suggest that after Gethsemane, all limits would've been off and he could've went "lion" in all kinds of ways.

If the cross is the ultimate image and expression of divine (other-centered, co-suffering, redeeming) love—which is the very essence of Gods nature—then why do we feel he needs to make another statement the second time around?

This is why I want to suggest another perspective.

If Jesus on the cross is the great demonstration of the nature and heart of God—what Paul sought to solely boast in—then likening God to anything outside of that is nothing short of idolatry.

I understand you may be saying: What about John's heavenly vision that included Christ as both the lion and the lamb? Do we just throw out the lion aspect of his nature?

Absolutely not! In fact, we should bear down on it and extract the truths therein.

To say that Jesus is both the lion and the lamb would be the summation of Christ' coming in flesh. In fact, the lion and lamb together in the Person of Jesus Christ is what encompassed (and continues to encompasses) his ministry. For when Christ came, he demonstrated the most fierce act of laid-down, other-centered, co-suffering, love. From his humble birth and incarnation, to the consent of giving up his life to the violent accusers and killers, he exemplified what it meant for a man to demonstrate power and authority (lion) by way of humility and lowliness (lamb). Through the act of willful submission (lamb), Christ entered into the depths of sin and death—thereby conquering and defeating it once and for all (lion). To say it another way: the lamb-like nature of God became the backdrop for his lion-like power and authority to shine forth.

Paul articulates this so well in his letter to the church of Philippi:

“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ (NASB)

Beloved, this is why the world scratched their noggins at his first coming and continues to ponder such astonishing truths in the 21st century. For what kind of Creator submits themselves to the violence and ridicule and accusations of Their weak, broken, deceived creation—only to turn it on its head, redeem it, and "take away the sin of the world?"

Friends, allow me to summarize: He's not coming as a lion in his second coming after having done the whole lamb thing in his first go round. On the contrary, Christ—in his birth, death, resurrection, and ascension—has once and for all fulfilled the lion and lamb paradigm. The two have been most perfectly exemplified in the Son’s incarnation. In the Person of Jesus, the Father, Son, and Spirit showed the world what it looks like when They prefer others (you and me) above Themselves—exemplifying a humble, laid-down love that resulted in an overcoming of sin, death, and all the disease of the human soul.

Beloved, Jesus was and is the lion. He was and is the lamb. We don't have to pick one over the other, nor do we have to hold our breath for the more vicious one to come. We have both in the Person of Jesus’ incarnation and whatever his second coming will look like, I am confident that it will once again mirror the good heart of his Father, which is one of other-centered, co-suffering, agape love.

Isn't this fascinating!

Scripture references: Galatians 6:14; Revelation 4-5; Luke 22:44; 1 John 4:7-8