Both Jesus and Satan are described as lions in the Bible. This can be an intimidating truth, yet it is worthwhile to talk about. Many shy away from talking about this parallel, but as Christians, we need to be aware of such topics in the Bible.
In this article, we are going to be talking about this topic as well as looking at direct Bible verses concerning Jesus being described as a lion and Satan being described as a lion.
Two Lions
It can be unsettling to see such a parallel and comparison between Jesus and Satan. Since Jesus and Satan are polar opposites of one another, it is hard to see them being described in the same light.
It is important to note here that while Jesus and Satan are both described as lions, it doesn’t mean they are the same. Satan wants to copy Jesus and downplay His glory. It is not unlikely that Satan copies Jesus because he wants the Lord’s glory.
Satan is also known as the deceiver; thus, it is important to be aware of his tactics and schemes. The best way we can take our stand against the devil is to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Jesus is described as a lion in multiple passages of Scripture. Revelation 5:5 records Jesus as being a lion, “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’”
The elder in this passage refers to Jesus as being the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Elsewhere in the Bible where we see Jesus as being described as a lion is in Hosea 11:10, “They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.”
As Hosea writes, Jesus is described as roaring like a lion. Both of these passages are but a few in Scripture that point to Jesus being a lion and also the lion of Judah.
Each time Jesus is described as being a lion, He is described in a positive light and as the lion of Judah. The Lord is the Redeemer who saves mankind from their sins. There is only light in the Lord, and He is a strong protector of His people.
He will roar, and His people will obey His commands. Jesus isn’t an angry lion, nor is He aggressive against us. He can destroy His enemy, Satan, but Jesus doesn’t want to hurt us.
Rather, Jesus will protect us from Satan and his demons. Jesus is also described as our Savior, our Lord, our Redeemer, our shepherd, and our friend.
Satan, on the other hand, just wants to destroy us. The Apostle Peter tells us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
This passage can scare us, but don’t let it scare you. Jesus is bigger than anything, including Satan. Satan might try to deceive us in every way, but we can see through him. By reading our Bible and praying to the Lord, we don’t have to fall victim to the devil’s schemes.
Going back to the verse of 1 Peter 5:8, Peter tells us what to do — he says to be alert and to be of sober mind. This means we need to be cautious, aware, and vigilant at all times because Satan is prowling around. Satan is prowling around as a lion because he wants to destroy us.
While Satan is not a literal lion, he does want to devour us like a lion devours its prey. Satan does this in a variety of ways.
A few ways he tries to devour us are by tempting us, causing problems in our lives, and making us doubt our salvation. Satan will try to do anything to deceive us and cause us to fall into sin. It is important that we take our stand against the devil and not fall victim to his schemes.
This is why it is important to dive into the Bible, meditate on Scripture, memorize Scripture, and go to God in prayer. Be ready at all times with the Word of God in your heart, the Holy Spirit inside you, and direct communication with the Lord in prayer.
As one can see, Jesus and Satan are both described as lions, but they aren’t similar in any way. It is better to view Jesus as the lion of light and Satan as the lion of darkness. Both of these lions are present, but we have to pick which one we are going to give our time and attention.
It is of the utmost importance to choose Jesus, our lion of light. He will never forsake us, and He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus loves you so much, and that will never change. He will always be with you, and He will always walk beside you through every hill and valley (Psalm 23).
Defining Deception
Satan is deceptive. The Lord tells us directly that Satan only wants to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a). Jesus came to earth to give us life and to give it to us in full (John 10:10b). Jesus and Satan are completely different even though they are both described as lions.
It is more than plausible that Satan copies the description of a lion to undermine Jesus. Satan hates Jesus and wants to cause all people to turn away from Him.
It’s not surprising that Satan would try to deceive these very same people by likening himself to a lion. We also see this connection in both Jesus and Satan, as they are both described as the “morning star” (Revelation 22:16; Isaiah 14:12).
Jesus is the true morning star as He is the bright light to shine salvation into the world. Satan, on the other hand, was created as a beautiful angel and shone bright, but then he fell because of his sin (Isaiah 14:12).
Similarly, there is similar imagery between Jesus and Satan in the form of the lion. As mentioned, this could be because Satan is trying to copy Jesus and downplay His Name.
It is also important to note that just because Jesus and Satan are both described as lions does not mean they are similar.
As we see in the Bible, there is nothing similar between Jesus and Satan. Jesus is our Lord, and He is the second member of the Trinity, which makes Him God.
Satan is a fallen angel whose ultimate destiny is in the lake of fire. Thus, there is nothing similar between Jesus and Satan, even though they are both described as lions.
Yet again, don’t let this fact alarm you. Jesus and Satan are not the same and they are not similar in any way. Satan tries to mimic and copy Jesus to undermine Him. Our lion is the lion of Judah. Jesus loves us, and He promises to protect us and keep us safe.
What Does This Mean?
One day we will live with our Lord in the New Heaven and New Earth for all eternity. Satan will be destroyed, and there will no longer be a lion of darkness prowling around, seeking our destruction.
Until that day comes, stand faithful and rest on the grace of the Lord. Jesus loves you, and you can always count on Him as He is the mighty lion of Judah.
For further reading:
5 Ways to Be Alert and Sober So That the Enemy Does Not Devour You
How Is Jesus the 'Lamb of God' and the 'Lion of the Tribe of Judah'?
How Are the Righteous as Bold as a Lion?
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