Jesus Christ is referred to as the Lion of Judah in multiple places in the Bible, so many artists have depicted Jesus along with a lion or some kind of lion imagery.  The vast majority of these artworks depict the lion at eye level, but I wanted to show another perspective for this piece.

Other lions in a pride are protected by the Alpha male lion – only one Male lion.  He looks OVER his pride, his children because they are his.  As Christians, we are children of God.  This painting is meant to show our perspective.  The lion depicted isn’t sticking his head up in the air, his gaze is level – looking at the horizon.  We are looking up to him under his protection.

Lions don’t chew their food, they rip it, break it, swallow it in chunks separated by sharp teeth.  Here, the lion is breaking, ripping, devouring a branch of thorns.  These thorns symbolize the curse that sin brought into the world.  Salvation through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross takes the curse that we deserve off of us.  Although Jesus suffered greatly in his crucifixion, he was victorious OVER death.  He treated death like a lion treats it’s prey – devouring it chunk by chunk and swallowing it completely!

The thorned branch is also beneath the lion and soon to be consumed completely.  It’s as if the branch was pulled up and off of the one he is protecting.  Once those thorns were brought to his level, they stood no chance!  Jesus’ death and resurrection means that Christians’ time under the curse of sin is OVER!

Jesus Christ doesn’t still wear the crown of thorns.  He reigns with a different crown!