The story of C.S. Lewis's conversion to Christianity begins with his own description of himself as "perhaps the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." Picture this: a brilliant Oxford professor, surrounded by books in his room at Magdalen College, wrestling not with academic theories but with Something—or rather, Someone—he couldn't escape. Lewis felt pursued, describing himself as "kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting [his] eyes in every direction for a chance to escape."
This tension between resistance and surrender mirrors a profound truth we find in Revelation 5: the dual nature of Christ as both Lion and Lamb. This paradoxical image offers us a powerful lens through which to view not only Christ's character but also our own spiritual journeys.
The Lamb Who Has Come
In Revelation 5, we encounter a fascinating scene. When John is told to behold the Lion of Judah, he turns to see not a majestic beast but a Lamb bearing the marks of slaughter. This unexpected image captures the heart of the gospel—God overcomes not through raw power but through sacrificial love.
The Lamb in Revelation stands at the center of God's throne, symbolizing that Christ's sacrificial death is central to how God chooses to rule the world. This isn't just a historical fact but a revelation of God's character. The one who holds ultimate power chooses to exercise it through self-giving love.
Consider how this manifests in Jesus's earthly ministry:
Born to a young woman in humble circumstances
Lived as a carpenter's son
Showed such ordinary appearance that Judas needed to point Him out to the authorities
Wept, laughed, and shared in human experience
Bore the marks of crucifixion even after resurrection
The Lion Who Is Coming
Yet this same Jesus is also the Lion of Judah, the triumphant King. This isn't a contradiction but a completion. The Lion's victory comes precisely through the Lamb's sacrifice. As we read in Colossians 2:15, Christ "disarmed the powers and authorities, making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
This Lion-nature of Christ calls us to allegiance—not to any earthly nation or leader, but to a Kingdom that operates by different rules. When one of Jesus's followers drew a sword in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus reminded him that true power doesn't come through force: "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:51–53)
The New Song: Our Response
In Revelation 5:9-10, the heavenly beings sing a new song celebrating Christ's worthiness. This song reveals three crucial aspects of Christ's work:
His Redemptive Purpose: Through His sacrifice, He purchased people from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
Our Present Calling: He has made us into a kingdom and priests to serve God.
Our Future Hope: We will reign with Him on the earth.
Living in the "Now and Not Yet"
Like C.S. Lewis on his fateful motorcycle ride to Whipsnade Zoo—during which he entered as a non-believer and left as a Christian—we often find ourselves in moments of transition. We live between the "now" of Christ's completed work on the cross and the "not yet" of His future return as the Lion.
This tension isn't something to resolve but to embrace. As kingdom priests, we're called to live in ways that reflect both the Lamb's sacrificial love and the Lion's triumphant authority. This means:
Serving others sacrificially
Standing for justice with humility
Loving our enemies while resisting evil
Caring for the marginalized while proclaiming hope
Now what?
The beauty of Revelation's imagery lies in its ability to hold together these seeming opposites. The Lion is the Lamb; the victory comes through sacrifice; the King rules through service. As we await Christ's return, we're called to embody this same paradox—to be both bold as lions in our faith and gentle as lambs in our love.
Whether you feel like Lewis—kicking and struggling against God's pursuit—or find yourself somewhere else on the journey, remember that the God who turned a reluctant Oxford professor into one of Christianity's greatest advocates is still at work today. He is the one who was, and is, and is to come—the Lion who conquers through the sacrifice of the Lamb.