4/6/08 Sermon
KEEP IN FOCUS-eye "I" exam
We need not only to keep our hearts fixed on our Lord Jesus, but we must also keep our minds focused on Him as well. This message is the beginning of a deeper study of symbolism of Jesus’ death on the cross compared to scriptures foreshadowing the event. Look deeper into this study for yourself.
I hate snakes.
The best thing for a snake is a sharp shovel right behind the head.
But today I want to look at snakes in a different way.
When we think of the scriptures and snakes, what do we think about?
Adam and Eve in the Garden with the Serpent
The Serpent = Satan
Satan=Sin
Nothing good comes from a snake right?
I find it fascinating the things that we see in scripture that happened so long ago, that we still see in our world today.
Take for example the Emergency medical services symbol called the Star of Life, recognized globally. It is comprised of typically a cross or asterisk made of gauze with a pole in the middle. And upon that pole is adorned a snake.
Now where in the world would our medical professions find such a symbol?
Wikipedia says “The rod of Asclepius symbolizes the healing arts by combining the serpent, which in shedding its skin is a symbol of rebirth and fertility, with the staff, a symbol of authority befitting the god of Medicine. The snake wrapped around the staff is widely claimed to be a species of rat snake, Elaphe longissima, also known as the Aesculapian or Asclepian snake. It is native to southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, and some central European spa regions, apparently brought there by Romans for their healing properties.
Is an ancient Greek symbol associated with astrology and with healing the sick through medicine. It consists of a serpent entwined around a staff. Asclepius, the son of Apollo, was a practitioner of medicine in ancient Greek mythology.”
All this stuff trying to determine where something comes from, leaving it up to Greek Mythology and other myths.
Where do I say if comes from? From the bible of course.
Riiiigggghhhtttt!
Lets take a look at Numbers 21:4-9 (read passage)
Here we see the exact symbol our medical profession uses, in its first recorded biblical use, for use by God’s people, during their Exodus time from Egypt, during the period of Moses’ leading.
Good stuff isn’t it?
With all this symbolism going on, lets take a good look at the scripture.
Comparison of Scriptures
The most obvious is the fact that the Israel nation was tired of eating manna, complained, stirred God to anger. God sent snakes which bit and killed them. The people finally realized their sin and called out in repentance. God hears them and offers for their deliverance and forgiveness a symbolic gesture in a serpent on a pole.
This passage has many underlying themes. Our bible study is reading through Psalms and have seen this very thing in Psalm 78 and Psalm 105-106. It’s a redemptive cycle that continues throughout scripture.
Redemptive Cycle
Psalm 106
1. Failure of God’s People
2. Anger of God
3. Discipline
4. Repentance
5. Deliverance/Forgiveness
Comparison of Scriptures: Numbers 21 and Psalm 78
Psalm 78
1. People Forgot Miracles
2. They Demanded More
3. Showed Insincere Repentance
4. Were Ungrateful for God’s provision and mercy
Numbers 21:4-9
1. They Sin
2. They must be disciplined (die)
OR They must Repent
3. God provides deliverance and forgiveness
But Why the Snake of all things?
We determined from Adam and Eve that the snake represents Satan but more importantly SIN.
And here we see that the Serpent had to be put upon a pole.
Numbers said that to be saved, all the people had to do was to look at the serpent of brass and live. In order to do that, they had to believe!
John 3:14-15 Jesus says
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Whoever looks to Jesus would be saved! Just as whoever looked upon that serpent on the pole.
STAY WITH ME HERE IT GETS VERY INTERESTING
What did Jesus do when he went to the Cross?
He took the sins of the world upon himself and carried them to the cross. Our Sins were Placed Upon the Cross, when Jesus took them there.
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
WHOA.
And Numbers said, all the people had to do was behold, look at, believe, and they would live.
John 3:14-16 whosoever believeth in JESUS would LIVE ETERNALLY.
Hebrews 12:2 says LOOKING UNTO JESUS…THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.
IT IS FINISHED!
WOW. Wait a minute, it gets even more intriguing.
Lets go back to the Garden.
CRUSH, BRUISE, STRIKE
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush/bruise your head, and you will strike/bruise his heel."
Go to Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded/pierced for our transgressions, he was bruised/crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his woundswe are healed.
Jesus had to take on our Sins. Jesus had to take on our SINS.
Symbolically…Jesus had to take the SERPENT to the Cross and NAIL it there!
The Serpent…Satan…Sin…had to be DEFEATED by putting it on the cross to DIE THERE.
Jesus - He was crushed, and by doing so, HE crushed the serpent
But Jesus Didn’t stay there. He didn’t stay there as the Serpent. No, He Buried the Serpent/SIN in the GRAVE. And He rose again to show us our HOPE and PROMISE of Life Eternal…
BY BELEIVING ON HIM
BY FOCUSING ON HIM
BY keeping our selves on track with JESUS.
Today. With this symbolic medical symbol. Take the EYE (I) exam, Examine yourself. Are you Looking Unto Jesus. Or are you losing focus?
YOU will be saved from sin’s deadly bite by looking to Jesus and believing HE will save you.
How is your eyesight?
Where are you placing your focus? Attention?
When you keep your heart, mind and soul focused on Jesus…
You Have PERFECT Vision!
Hallelujah!
* * * * *
FURTHER STUDY…RANDOM NOTES
This is a message that needs further study. It’s message is intriguing in the comparisons of scripture from Numbers 21 and John 3.
Basic outline is by looking at various passages and seeing the comparisons of all
Numbers 21:4=9
They sinned and were disciplined by serpents whose bite killed a slow and intensely agonizing and painful death.
Numbers Symbolisms
John 3:14-15
Jesus said…
Look these up for your own study. Its amazing
Other scriptures referenced are
Genesis 3:15
1 Peter 2:24
Isaiah 53:4-5
Hebrews 12:2
Numbers 21:4-9
1. Problem = Sin
Discouraged
Murmur against God
Complain to Moses
2. Anger and Discipline
Serpent Attacks
3. Repentance
Cry for help
4. Deliverance/Forgiveness
Look unto the ‘cross’
Snake represents
Serpent attack
Satan
Sin
Satan wants to nip at our heels and cause a slow and painful death.
Bite from snake = slow death with intense suffering. People feared the snake. Crushed its head.
Genesis 3:15 CRUSH/BRUISE HEAD…BRUISE/STRIKE HEEL
Numbers
Vs. 7 Repentance – Take away the pain and suffering
8-9 Bronze snake hung on a pole “Lifted Up”
Fuller meaning of Jesus Christ John 3:14-15
Jesus explained just as Israelites were healed of their sicknesses of sin by looking at the snake on the pole.
All believers today can be saved from sickness of sin by looking to Jesus’ death on the cross.
It was not the snake that healed the people
It was their belief that God could heal them
This belief was demonstrated by their obedience in following God’s instructions
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus
BEHELD = to look upon
Looking at the snake on the pole
Keep it in focus
Keep our heart not only FIXED on the LORD but also FOCUSED on the Cross, death and resurrection
Believe and not perish
Focus=believe=don’t lose focus=keep believing
If the snake represents Satan, then why the snake on the pole.
If the snake represents satan, what does it actually represent. Sin
Sin had to be nailed to the pole
Sin had to be nailed to the cross
Jesus - He was crushed, and by doing so, HE crushed the serpent
Numbers 21:4-9
4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there
any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the
serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall
live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
John 3:14-15
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded/pierced for our transgressions, he was bruised/crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
