“And 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

Hundreds of years earlier, the Israelites had rebelled against God, grumbling and complaining about His provision. As both symbol of, and punishment for, their sin God sent venomous snakes to plague them in the desert. However, because He is a God who saves, He had Moses create a bronze snake on a pole and all who were dying from the poison from these snakes could look up to that snake and be healed of what was killing them.

That strange story pointed forward to what Jesus does for us. We have all rebelled against God’s good design for our life. We grumble and complain about our situation, and prefer to do whatever we like no matter what. We’ve all been poisoned by sin and we all deserve the agony of an eternity separated from our holy God who doesn’t permit sin into His presence.

However, because God is a God who saves, He sent His Son Jesus to bring healing. By His sacrifice on the cross, in which Jesus Christ was lifted high, laid low in the tomb, and raised back to life even higher, He fulfilled this promise and opened the way to healing and reconciliation between sinful humans and our sinless God. All who believe in Jesus, all who look to Him for healing from the poison of sin and death will receive eternal life: the knowledge, relationship, and presence of God forever more.

“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” – John 2:11

Jesus’ first miracle was private, quiet, nearly invisible. Nearly. His earliest disciples were there to see water instantly turned into fine wine. Because they did, they believed for the rest of their lives, though they certainly still had much to learn about Him.

They were there that day when Jesus revealed that He had the power of God over the elements of nature, able to change one thing (water) into something else (wine) in large quantities. They were there when Jesus quietly blessed a poorly planned wedding feast by providing better wine than what they’d had previously. They were there when Jesus transformed the water for cleansing that symbolized the old covenant of Moses into wine, that symbolizes the blood of the New Covenant in Him. They were there the first time Jesus revealed His glory just for their benefit.

The reason Jesus did miracles was to reveal to people that He was indeed the Son of God, God Himself, with all the power and glory of God. That day He revealed Himself to a handful and they believed!

“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).’ – John 1:40-42

This is a critical moment in the history of the world! Andrew met Jesus and believed He was the Messiah. The first thing he did after that was find his brother, tell him about Jesus the Messiah, and bring him to Jesus. Andrew, while certainly important, is not especially famous. Peter is, well, Peter – apostle, pastor, evangelist, author of Scripture, leader of the early church.

What a simple, yet difficult thing, yet critical thing Andrew did! To go to someone he cared about, tell him about Jesus, and bring him to Him. We’re called to do the same, to be Andrews in the lives of others. Yes, it can be difficult, but it’s also both simple and critical. Your efforts may not only change their present and eternal future, it may change the world!!!

Who do you care about who needs to meet Jesus? Will you be faithful to be his or her Andrew???

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

What an extraordinary moment! The eternal Word, who was with God in the beginning and who was God, became flesh and lived among us. The event we call Christmas was the pivotal moment in history when the divine Son of God took on human flesh and a human nature, stepping into our fallen world.

By doing so, He could live the perfect life we can’t, defeating every temptation thrown at Him. By doing so, He could give Himself as a perfect, innocent sacrifice sufficient to pay the penalty for all our sins. By doing so, He became our Savior, a Savior who understands the difficulties and pain of ordinary human existence and so truly understands when we cry out to Him. By doing so, Jesus brought grace and truth into our lives when we embrace Him. What a glorious moment!!!

“But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
forever and ever.”
– Psalm 52:8

God’s steadfast love (“hesed” in Hebrew) is spoken of over and over again throughout Scripture. It’s central to His character. He is the God of steadfast love. His love is quite unlike our shallow human (especially 21st century) notions of love. God’s steadfast love is unwavering and unchanging. It isn’t conditional or transactional. It doesn’t increase or decrease based on His mood, the weather, what we’ve done for Him lately, or the situation of the world.

God’s steadfast love is an unshakable foundation upon which we can build our lives. The Psalmist describes God’s love as the source of perpetual nourishment and life-giving abundance that makes him like a green olive tree. By making the commitment to trust in God’s love forever, he knows he is forever fruitful and healthy.

During this time of uncertainty, difficulty, frustration, anxiety, and genuine suffering, put your trust in God’s steadfast love. Though the world around you may feel hostile and strange, God’s love will provide all you need to thrive. This is the love that never fails. This is the love that sent His Son Jesus into this world to suffer and die for our sins. This is the love that raised Jesus from the dead and the love that fills us with a fountain of living water when we put our faith in Jesus. This is the love that forgives our every sin and mistake in Christ and the love that in Christ we will enjoy forever and ever in God’s presence.