The Lion and the Man

The Lion and the Man

A Sermon of Spiritual Awakening and Inner Victory

Scripture Focus

Gospel of Thomas, Saying 7

Jesus said, “Blessed is the lion which the man eats, and the lion will become man;
and cursed is the man whom the lion eats, and the lion will become man.”

Introduction: A Strange Saying, A Deeper Meaning

At first glance, this saying from the Gospel of Thomas may sound odd, even disturbing. Lions eating people? People eating lions?

But as with many of Jesus' mystical teachings, this is not about the body. It’s about the spirit.

It’s a parable about what happens when we confront the beast within, our fears, desires, trauma, shame, and ego. It’s about what devours you… and what you choose to consume and transform.

The Lion Within

Every human carries a “lion” inside:

• The lion of fear

• The lion of anger

• The lion of addiction or pride

• The lion of woundedness and trauma

This lion is not evil. It is raw, powerful, and instinctual. But if you let it rule you, it will devour your soul. And as Jesus said, “Cursed is the man whom the lion eats, and the lion becomes man.”

In other words:

If your fear consumes you, it becomes your identity.
If your pain defines you, it controls your choices.
If your anger speaks louder than your soul, you become the beast.

There’s Another Way

“Blessed is the lion which the man eats, and the lion will become man.”

This is the path of overcoming.

To “eat the lion” is to face your inner darkness, and transform it into strength.

It’s:

• Turning fear into courage

• Turning wounds into wisdom

• Turning shame into compassion

• Turning survival instinct into spiritual clarity

It means saying:

“I will not run from my shadow. I will face it, feel it, and transform it.”

This is not repression, it is redemption.

How Can Humans Overcome?

Let’s anchor this parable with truth we’ve explored before, how humans can truly overcome:

1. By Facing the Truth, Not Avoiding It

You overcome by eating the lion, looking at what scares you, what haunts you, what controls you. Healing begins when we stop hiding and start telling the truth.

2. By Choosing Growth Over Comfort

Overcoming isn’t about ease, it’s about transformation.
It takes courage to sit with your sadness.
To let go of old stories.
To step into a new identity.

3. By Taking Responsibility, Not Blame

You may not have chosen your pain, but you can choose your response.
Responsibility says: “I will take what tried to break me and use it to build something holy.”

4. By Becoming a Vessel of Light

When you heal, your presence heals others. You no longer need to shout, you radiate.

The lion you’ve tamed becomes the strength you carry into the world.

A Word to the Weary

If you feel devoured right now… if you feel like the lion has eaten you…

Take heart.

You can still rise.
You can still reverse the process.
The man who was eaten can be reborn.
The soul that was swallowed can emerge brighter.

Conclusion: The Lion Becomes Light

This saying is not about violence, it’s about transformation.

You are not called to slay your lion, but to eat it.
To bless it.
To transform it.

And in doing so, to become fully human, not ruled by fear, but radiant with wisdom and love.

Closing Prayer

God of Courage and Transformation,
Help us face the lion within.
Help us bless the pain we once feared,
And turn it into power that heals.
Let us not be devoured by the world,
But let us become vessels of truth,
So that we may shine as the children of light.
Amen.