The Elephant and the Ass.
We have the elephant and the donkey of the political world, and the bear and the bull representing the “beasts of finance.” Large, stubborn, and/or vicious animals meant to represent power and influence.
And what about Jesus? Jesus is a lamb. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. No need to be menacing, no need to be physically powerful and large. His power, His power represented through the sacrificial nature of the lamb, need not be displayed as brute. His becoming weak, His becoming a man, His becoming a lamb who takes on the sin of the world gives Him more power in His lamb-hood than if He were any beast of power.
Imagine a high school or university or major sports team taking on the mascot of a lamb. Unthinkable, right?
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
