In the evenings I have been reading the young adult novel Twilight. It’s about a girl who falls in love with a vampire. Ah, the joy of guilty pleasures. Without ruining the story for you, people become vampires when they are bitten by another vampire. The venom from the vampire’s fangs begins working its way through the your body until it has taken over and you become the walking undead, cold and a slave to their lusts. Sometimes I feel like I have venom in my veins: restless, irritated, and unsatisfied. And this reminds me of a metaphor spun by Jesus, about a strange occurrence long ago, foreshadowing something important.
Thousands and thousands of years ago, an ancient people group wandered in the desert and were attacked by venomous snakes. When their leader prayed for them, God told him to create a snake out of bronze and lift it up on a pole. Anyone who was bitten could look at it and they would be healed. Jesus referred to that story when he said:
“In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up— and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.” - John 3:14, The Message
I don’t know why or how it happens, but whenever I look to Jesus, I feel the venom seep out of my veins, the fog lift from my eyes, and I can see again. Pray with me that every morning, every day, we would look to Jesus.
Thousands and thousands of years ago, an ancient people group wandered in the desert and were attacked by venomous snakes. When their leader prayed for them, God told him to create a snake out of bronze and lift it up on a pole. Anyone who was bitten could look at it and they would be healed. Jesus referred to that story when he said:
“In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up— and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.” - John 3:14, The Message
I don’t know why or how it happens, but whenever I look to Jesus, I feel the venom seep out of my veins, the fog lift from my eyes, and I can see again. Pray with me that every morning, every day, we would look to Jesus.
2 comments:
very nicely said.
Very interesting. I almost stopped reading because I thought it was a horror post. But it wasn't! Good post!
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