“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. “   This writer believes Isaiah 9:6 talks about two aspects of Christ in one verse and appears to blend them into one event while in reality the verse combines elements of both the first advent and the second advent of Jesus Christ. It speaks of His birth and earthly ministry as the Lamb of God and it speaks of His return in the future as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  Hallelujah!

    He first came as a Lamb, meek and gentle without spot or blemish. He’s returning as a Lion, scarred, powerful and ready for battle.

As the Lamb…. His birth was noticed by only a handful of shepherds.

 Luke 2:8-17 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host.”

  As the Lamb…Christ was born in poverty. Luke 2:22-24 “And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

 The law (Lev. 12:6-8) required a lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or turtle-dove for a sin offering, but in the case of the poor one of these birds might be substituted for the lamb, “and the priest shall make atonement for her and she shall be clean” . The fact that Joseph and Mary brought a pair of birds instead of a lamb shows that they were very poor. While the lamb would probably cost about one dollar and seventy-five cents, the doves would cost about sixteen cents.

  2 Corinthians 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” 

   As a Lamb…He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter and like a sheep that is silent before it’s shearers, so He did not open His mouth even unto death. He was beaten, scorned, spit on, and then crucified but He opened not His mouth. 

   “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain” the angels and the holy will sing. But those who don’t know God and who have refused to obey His Son will cry out to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.”

  But the joy of the Christian life is to follow the Lamb wherever He leads. For Jesus is the Lamb that was slain before the world and who leads all into eternal life.

   But as a Lion… when Christ returns every eye will see Him!
Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen!”

    Matthew 24:30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. “

   As a Lion… Christ will return in regal splendor!  Mark 8:38 “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

  Revelation 19:11-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” 

  When the Lord shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. He will be dealing out retribution to those who rejected the Lamb and spit in the face of the work He did on the cross while trampling in the blood He gave so freely. He sent His only Son to die for the sins of the world and He will not let this rejection go unpunished. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you if you call upon His name, Jesus. “In that day whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved”.

 “This day I lay before you life and death, heaven and hell. Choose life and live to reign with Me forever,” saith the Lord thy God.

Accept the Lamb or face the Lion.

In His love, 

Elizabeh