March 11, 2018 Sunday

““And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. “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. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”” (John 3:14-21 NKJV)

            The picture of Moses lifting up the serpent has become the symbol for Physicians in America as a sign of healing and hope.  This passage connects the crucifixion of Jesus with this picture of healing and hope.

            Isn’t it interesting that the symbol of a serpent lifted up is the symbol of healing from the serpents bite as well as the symbol of Jesus on the cross?  Do you think that Jesus on the cross was also healing us from the bite of the serpent we know as satan?

            This act of Jesus is shown as the sign of God’s love for us and that the cross is meant to bring healing to the whole world.  But just as in the day of Moses we will not receive healing if we are not willing to LOOK and trust in Jesus!

            Do you not look at Jesus because you are afraid God will judge you of your sin?  The next phrase comforts us that Jesus, who had every right to condemn us, did not come to condemn us but came so we could be saved!

            Next we are told that if we are condemned we really condemn ourselves because we love the darkness (our sin) more than the Light (God).  Even as many think God is so evil for sending people to hell this passage reminds us that like in the Fall we choose condemnation because we actually hate the Light and love the darkness!

            Do you look for the Light and turn away from the darkness?  Do you look at Jesus upon the cross and trust in His victory over the serpent satan?  If not realize it is not God that condemns you but you condemn yourself!  Those who go to hell go by their own choice!

            TERRIBLE TERRIBLE day!  The pain in my legs kept me from going to worship at Asbury.  But I did worship with the podcast from First Jeff.  I so enjoy the podcasts and can almost see the service and the faces of those there.  The pain increased as the day went on as every muscle in my legs tensed up.  At times it was so bad I couldn’t even sing which usually helps me.  But without God I wouldn’t have made it.  God is so good to me.