Abiding in Easterనమూనా

ABIDING IN EASTER - LENT DEVOTIONAL by BRYAN CRAIG

DAY 31

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. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:14-18 ESV

Most of you are familiar with John 3:16, but it is interesting to ponder the verses around it. Verses 14 & 15 talks about Moses raising up a serpent. This is from Numbers 21 when the Israelites were wandering in the desert and began to grumble against God. He sent serpents to attack them, and many of them died. When they repented, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. When the people were bitten by a serpent, if they looked upon the bronze serpent, they would live. I know it’s a strange story, but it’s true. We have all been bitten by the snake of sin and are destined to die. But instead of a bronze serpent, God lifted up Jesus onto a Cross, and He wants us to gaze upon Him, see His sacrifice, and live. If we will not do this, we are condemned.

APPLICATION:

Close your eyes and picture Jesus on the Cross. Look into His eyes. Let your brain, your imagination and your spirit go to this place. Thank Him for saving you.