Keep On Looking at Jesus

The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

Numbers 21:7-9

To get healed from a snakebite, you look to … a snake? It seems crazy. But it worked because God had promised that it would. God didn’t take away the poisonous snakes; instead, he dealt with the poison.

And that is what he’s done for you and for me regarding the “poisonous snake” called “sin.” Has that snake bitten you this week? A better question would be: How horribly has sin bitten you this week? That’s more accurate, right.

God gives help for the poison of sin. Jesus talked about it in John chapter three, when he said to Nicodemus, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14,15). God’s answer to sin was to charge Jesus with all of those sins, and put Jesus on a cross to pay for them. When Jesus died, he paid for sin in full. Everyone who looks to Jesus and trust in him for forgiveness is healed of their sin, just as everyone who looked at that bronze snake in Moses’ day were healed of their snakebite. So, keep your eyes on Jesus and trust that through him, you really are healed of your sin.

Prayer:

O Savior, forgive me for underestimating the horror of sin. Lead me back to your cross over and over, that you might continue to assure me that I’ve been healed by your work, that indeed I’ve been healed forever. Lead me to live in the confidence of forgiveness, and to reflect your joy to those around me. Amen.