Look and Live (Gospel)....(Learnt...6/19...Serial Post)

*Look and Live* (Gospel) 

(Learnt…6/19….Serial Post)

Ever since the world woke up to the reality of  Covid-19 catastrophe, a pandemic which has been on its destructive spree,  there have been many bulletins, many warnings, many measures spreading all over us to protect the well-being of our families as well as our society.    Besides the word Corona,  there is another name, a three letter acronym, that gets mentioned, time and time again, in our media.   Yes, you said it right.  It is WHO (World Health Organization).  Today, WHO is the only organization in the world which is authorized to disseminate information and statistics on this pandemic, propose guiding principles to the nations on how to tackle this virus as well as  protect its people. Nations of the world are expected to abide by the procedures prescribed by WHO.

I do not know how many of you have ever noticed the logo of World Health Organization?  I  am attaching the same here.  If you look at the image,  you could see an image of a serpent tied to a pole with the sketch of world map in the background. What comes to your mind, when y you see this image?  Do you know its meaning?  I am sure you must be knowing.  Nevertheless, a cue to those who are not familiar.  But before that let us glance through some scriptures…  

Num_21:8  And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."

Num_21:9  So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

John 3:14-15  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:21. ‘Him who knew no sin he [God] made to be sin on our behalf’

What is recorded in the Old Testament book of Numbers is a true incidents which happened 4000 years ago in human history.   God, angered by the murmurings and insubordination of the Israelites, sent fiery serpents among the people.  Many died amongst the Israelites, when the serpents bit them.  When the people realized their folly and pleaded to Moses to intercede on their behalf. Moses prayed to God.  God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if anyone who is bitten, would look at this bronze serpent, he shall live.  Moses, accordingly made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And those who looked at it were healed.

This incident was a precursor or a shadow of another phenomenal event that was to take place in the history of humankind atleast 2000 years later - Jesus Christ being hanged on a tree(cross)! Just as the one who knew no sin, became sin for us. The serpent thus symbolizes the lethal nature, deep rootedness, undeniable evidence of sin and its consequence on humankind.  Fiery serpent that bit them in the woods is typical of sin whose wages is death.  Bronze Serpent (which signifies strength and sacrifice)is typical of one bore our sin, who became sin for us (not serpent). Those who looked at this lived!

Jesus was lifted on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for us, to redeem us from the deadly grip of sin and to release us from its deadly wages or punishment - eternal death.  The malefactor who was crucified alongwith Jesus, looked at the one hanging on the cross and received eternal bliss, instantly.  Yes, this is the story behind this image - logo of WHO.  Way back in the wilderness,  God made a provision in the form of a bronze serpent to save his people from the bite of fiery serpent.  Way forward, in the fulness of time, God made a provision in the form of Jesus Christ who was lifted up on the cross so that those who look upto him can be saved from the penalty and punishment of sin and attain eternal life.  And those who come to him still, those who look to him still, are receiving the gift of salvation and promise of eternal life!

No medicine, no vaccine has so far been found to stop, alleviate or destroy the novel Corona virus. According to WHO, the only way in which we can avert this is by staying away from the society.  But interestingly, the logo of WHO communicates to us a message much deeper than this. To fight, to overcome, to destroy the dreadful inflection of sin, under the heaven and above the earth, no remedy, no provision, no method is found.  The only way given to mankind is looking unto the one who was crucified on the cross for us.  One who looks to Lord Jesus, hanging on the cross, will receive forgivness of sins. One who received Lord Jesus as his personal saviour shall live.  Not just life here on earth, but eternal life.  This is Gospel

_*Think through*_

God did not at once take away the plague. Each individual received healing only when he performed an act of faith, by looking at the serpent. An early Jewish writer says that it was not the serpent that brought the Israelites healing, but the fact that they ‘lifted up their eyes and directed their heart towards their heavenly Father.’

Even today those who do not know Jesus,  if they look unto him who was laid on the cross, they will not receive peace and well-being in this world but also a promise of an eternal life!

It is wrong to be a carrier of this deadly pandemic Covid-19.  But there is nothing wrong in carrying this good news to others.  Maybe we will be guilty, if we do not share this news with others (2 Kings 7:9)                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                             ..Continued