Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Continuing the theme of March weather: March came in like a lamb if you consider sunny, 70 degrees, with 10 mph winds to be mild weather.
The forecast for the month’s last day on Friday is for mostly sunny, 79 degrees, and 24 mph winds. That’s certainly more wild than mild.
Without regard to our interpretation of lion and lamb as they pertain to March weather, there is one point about lambs and lions on which Christians can agree. That is, Jesus is both the Lion and the Lamb.
He’s the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, having the right to rule over the house of Israel, who is now the church (Revelation 5:5; Genesis 49:8-12; Galatians 6:14-16; Philippians 3:3).
As the Lamb of God sent to take away the sins of the world, Jesus purchased the church with his own blood (Genesis 22:1-14; John 1:29-34; 1 Peter 1:18-21; 1 John 2:2; Acts 20:28).
Because Jesus offered himself for this purpose, God raised him from the dead to rule over his church until he returns for us (Hebrews 10:5-10; 1 Corinthians 15:12-26). But, we’ll share in his resurrection only if we become identified with him in his death and burial through baptism (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:9-12; Galatians 3:26-4:7).
As the Lion, Jesus not only rules his church, he also protects its members. Like a lion circling his territory warning predators to not mess with what belongs to him, Jesus is also the shepherd who lays across the sheep gate (John 10:1-11; Matthew 7:15-23).
Another lion, Satan, prowls around the outside looking for someone to devour as they cross out of Jesus’ protected territory (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:27-30; 15:6; 2 Peter 2:20-22).
Perhaps Satan’s roaring is meant to trick Christians into thinking they are passing back into the safety zone (2 Corinthians 11:14).
If we follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for us, we can have the same lion-like boldness he has to proclaim his righteousness through our life as his sheep and actually being his family (Proverbs 28:1; Psalm 138:1-3; Acts 4:29-31; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 John 3:1-3). Otherwise, Jesus is coming back for his church at which time he also will exact ferocious vengeance on those who have not obeyed him, thereby, trampling his personal sacrifice under foot (John 14:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Hebrews 10:28-31).
Have you come to Jesus as the Good Shepherd who, as the Lamb of God, gave himself so you could be free of the guilt of sin? Are you staying within the territory of his hand where, as the Lion of Judah, he can protect you from our enemy, the Satanic lion?
Leonard Lauriault writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at