April 5, 2012

^"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:14-16

There is a very good reason why Jesus was crucified. If you don't understand that reason you won't get the significance of the Good Friday and Easter week-end.

The reason can be expressed in one word "SIN".

Actually, two words, "MY SIN" or "YOUR SIN"

In typical Son of God clarity and simplicity, Jesus illustrated the significance of the cross and the seriousness of sin all in the space of three verses.

"How's that?" you ask?

When He referred to Moses lifting the snake in the wilderness these Jewish listeners knew exactly what He was talking about. You may not, so I will remind you:

"They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 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 21:4-9

Jesus is saying that you and I are "snake bitten". He portrays sin as a fatal snake bite. If it isn't treated it will kill you.

If sin is like a venonous snake bite (it is) then Jesus lifted up on the cross is the "anti-venom" or the cure for snake bite. Look to Him and live or fail to trust in His cross and die. Those are your two choices.

How important is the cross? How important is your life? How important is your eternity?

Sin is a fatal condition and the cross is the "snake-bite kit"!