The Lamb, Hen, Lion, and Serpent

It’s interesting to look at the animals that the Savior is compared to in the scriptures.  No one animal can represent Him but we can learn more about who He is by looking at the traits of the animals that are used to symbolize Him.  The most common of course is the Lamb—the scriptures speak over and over of how He is the Lamb of God.  This is how John the Baptist introduced the Savior to others: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  Nephi used the title often: “I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them….  The Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water….  The Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world” (1 Nephi 12:6, 2 Nephi 31:6, 1 Nephi 13:40).  In the Doctrine and Covenants we have the same title: “The Lamb of God hath overcome and trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God” (D&C 88:106).  The title teaches us that Christ was to be the great sacrifice; just as the ancient Israelites were to sacrifice lambs, so would Christ be the Lamb to be sacrificed for our sins.  The appellation also teaches us of His meekness, His purity, His perfect submission to His Father: He went “as a lamb to the slaughter” in order to atone for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:7). 

                Another animal that He compared Himself to is the hen.  He lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34)  He told the Nephites something similar: “And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not” (3 Nephi 10:5).  The message from this analogy is that the Lord seeks to do everything to care for us and protect us if we will let Him.  According to Wikipedia, a hen “will ‘sit’ or ‘set’ on the nest, protesting or pecking in defense if disturbed or removed, and she will rarely leave the nest…. After hatching, the hen fiercely guards the chicks, and will brood them when necessary to keep them warm….  She continues to care for them until they are several weeks old.”  So the hen takes great care of her chicks, and the Savior in a  similar manner will protect and care for all those who will hear and listen to His voice. 

                Two other more fierce animals are compared in the scriptures to Jesus.  Speaking of Moses, Nephi questioned the people of His day: “Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.  And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal” (Helaman 8:14-15).  Just as Moses lifted up the serpent to heal the people, so is Christ the One who is lifted up to heal us.  At the end of the New Testament in the Revelation of John the Savior was also compared to a lion: “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof” (Revelation 5:5).”  Christ is not only the meek Lamb and the gentle hen; He is also the Lion that will protect His sheep that hear His voice.