Through the Bible - 2 Kings18-22, John 6:60-7:36
Good morning,
For today's verse we'll return to John chapter 3 to look at a few verses that grow in meaning each time I read them. This weekend's Old Testament reading tell us of King Hezekiah, a reformer in Judah. One of the things that he did was to tear down the bronze serpent which Jesus refers to in John 3. In the exodus, the Israelites got tired of the manna, tired of the wandering to the point that they "longed" to go back to Egypt and go back to a life of slavery. They began to murmer against God. He sent biting poisonous snakes among them as a curse for their rejection of Him. He instructed Moses to erect a bronze snake. Those that were bitten and looked up to the snake would be cured from this plague.
It demonstrated God's presence and power and reminded people of His mercy and forgiveness. But over the years it had become an idol in itself.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. NKJV
In the Old Testament the people were to look to the serpent and realize that it was their sin that brought this on and that they were to turn to God for forgiveness and healing. It is the same with us. When we realize that we have sinned we can look to the Saviour who took "My sin, not in part but the whole, nailed it to the cross, ("It is Well With My Soul"), turn to Him in repentance and receive forgiveness and healing.
I'm reminded of the praise song that we sing, "Here I Am to Worship". Remember these lines?
I'll never know how much it cost,
To see my sin upon that cross....
So, here I AM (God) to worship,
Here, I AM, to bow down,
Here, I Am, to say that You're my God.
We're not looking to the cross as an idol, we are looking to "Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith". Heb. 12:2
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him,"How can these things be?"
10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
NKJV
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