9 p.m. ….

“See, the LION of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.”
Revelation 5:5b

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the LAMB of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
John 1:29

Jesus is described as both the “Lion of Judah” and the “Lamb of God”.

The manifestation of this reality is captured with this unique art display, a gift to Irene from artist Heather Gebbia and her sister Cheryl McKay.

The Lion of Judah has its origins in the Book of Genesis where the Israelite tribe of Judah had the lion as its symbol.  In our Christian tradition, the lion is often representative of Jesus.

The Lamb of God is a title of Jesus in the New Testament.  It refers to Jesus’ role as a sacrificial lamb atoning for the sins of man, hearkening back to ancient Jewish Temple sacrifices in which a lamb was slain during the Passover.  The Biblical significance of the title is understood within the context of earlier lamb symbolism.  The blood of the lamb of the Old Testament protects and saves the Israelites in Exodus 12. Christians are saved by Christ as the true lamb.

Irene had a great day.  She was up this morning canning raspberry preserves, later went to the store with JoAnna and was also up to a “take out” dinner this evening which we enjoyed “bay side” near Capitola Village.  The nausea was tolerable.  I took a bike ride; Jocelyn was enjoying being with friends; JoAnna took a run on the beach.  Irene took a nap this afternoon and enjoyed a short visit from Kent & Marsha Tarr with John & Karen Malinowski.  We’re so grateful for the day.  There was such a sense of “normalcy”.

When visiting Irene in the hospital, our friend Laura Gschwend, commented about taking “Judah” Street to the top of the hill where UCSF gloriously overlooks the San Francisco Bay and skyline.  She would boldly pronounce that the “Lion of Judah” was “roaring” on Irene’s behalf.  Those were days of great emotional uncertainty and Laura’s comments were especially meaningful and comforting at the time.  We see the evidence of His “roaring manifestation” in Irene’s body as it heals day by day.

We are forever grateful that God, through Jesus Christ, has provided the “Lion and the Lamb” as the “Gateway to Heaven”.  He stands alive today in a resurrected body and gives all who receive Him eternal life.  Our confidence is in Him.

Caminando con Fé
Dave