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There is often a parallel drawn between the four faces of the four living creatures, from the opening vision of the prophet Ezekiel, and the four Gospel accounts.

“…Within it there were figures resembling four living beings.  And this was their appearance: they had human form.  Each of them had four faces…As for the form of their faces, each had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.  Such were their faces.” – Ezekiel 1:5-11

Ezekiel wrote about the four living creatures – the cherubim – again in Ezekiel 10:14: “each one had four faces.  The first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.”  It might seem redundant that one of the faces of the cherubim is described as a cherub.  That face is in lieu of the bull/ox – the servant – which the cherubim are to God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is represented in the four faces of the four living creatures.

• In the Gospel of Matthew, we see the Messiah King – the lion.
• In the Gospel of Mark, we see the Suffering Servant – the ox.
• In the Gospel of Luke, we see the Son of Man – the man.
• In the Gospel of John, we see the Son of God – the eagle.

The lion symbolizes supreme strength, majesty and kingship.  Thus Christ is portrayed in the Gospel of Matthew as King of Kings.  “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham…” – Matthew 1:1

The ox symbolizes lowly service.  It also was an animal regularly used for sacrifice.  Christ was sacrificed for our sins.  “ ‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’ ” – Mark 10:45 

The man represents Christ, the Son of Man, as the perfect man.  Christ left His position of glory with the Father and became a man so that He might die on the cross for our sins.  “ ‘But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…’ ” – Luke 5:24.  “ ‘But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” – Luke 22:69

The eagle symbolizes divinity, sovereignty, supremacy – Christ in all His deity.  The living creature represents the resurrection and ascension of Christ.  The Apostle John in his gospel presents Jesus Christ as the Son of God and shows His relationship with heaven.  “…so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” – John 20:31.  “…who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” – Hebrews 8:1

These four aspects give the full truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

• As Sovereign, He comes to reign and rule.
• As Servant, He comes to serve and suffer.
• As Son of Man, He comes to share and sympathize.
• As Son of God, He comes to reveal and redeem.

A beautiful fourfold blending – sovereignty, humility, humanity and deity.

Ezekiel’s vision is seen by John in the Book of Revelation:

“…and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.  The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.  And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within, and day and night they do not cease to say, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.’ “ – Revelation 4:6-8

The four living creatures – the cherubim – are mentioned several other times in the Book of Revelation:

• “And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.” – Revelation 5:6
• “When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb…and they sang a new song…” – Revelation 5:8
• “And the four living creatures kept saying, ‘Amen.’ ” – Revelation 5:14
• “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God…” – Revelation 7:11

“Worship God“

– Revelation 19:10; 22:9

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:28