Serpent-like

Sometimes things need to happen for other things to happen.

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. - John 3:14-15

Today's readings from John's Gospel and from the Book of Numbers are tied together.  Both mention Moses lifting up a serpent in the wilderness.

John compares Jesus to the bronze serpent Moses holds up before the people.  When they are bitten by poisonous snakes, all they have to do is look upon the bronze serpent and they will live.

John tells us Jesus has the same power for people who turn to him and believe.

The idea of Jesus as a serpent is bothersome because the serpent was deadly.  We like to think of Jesus as a source of life, not one who could take life away.

In Moses' time, the people believed all that came to them, both good and bad, was from God, so it was God who sent the serpents as punishment for their sins.  Some people think that way today, that the natural disasters we experience are a sign of God's wrath.

But when Moses sought help from God, God provided it, giving Moses something tangible he could do to save the people.

John is telling us we can all do the same, by helping people look on Jesus.

We tend not to do that, though.  We will do it for ourselves, but we tend to leave others to do as they will, not wanting to force our views on them.

That would be like Moses hiding the bronze serpent so people would not see it when they were bitten.  They would die.

So, I guess John is telling us not to hide the light under a bushel, where it won't be seen, but to let it shine brightly for all to see.

Sounds like good advice.

More to come...