Lifted up on a Pole - September 9, 2010

Good Thursday morning! I could use a bit more walking today, but the overcast skies cancelled the photography and the threat of rain left me worried about my house and its open windows. The wind is already blowing too, not sure if it will ever stop after the past few days.

Verse 15 goes with verse 14, so I'll repeat yesterday's verse. "And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life." John 3:15

"So that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life." That sounds a lot like the next verse, which we will get to tomorrow, with its promise of eternal life. Believing in Jesus to gain eternal life sounds just too easy, but this verse reminds us that a price is to be paid. We don't have Nicodemus' knowledge of the current times in Judea. The times included the occupation of the land by the Romans, rebellions both small and large, and the many crucifixions carried out by the Roman authorities. When Jesus told of being lifted up, that may have triggered an immediate recognition in those listening of a crucifixion. "Lifted up on a pole" might have been in the vernacular of the day, just as we have sayings about lethal injection or death in the electric chair. Jesus has already revealed to Nicodemus and his disciples that the Son of Man will pay the price so that anyone who believes will have eternal life.

Jesus tells us in verses 14 and 15 what must occur for us to have eternal life. The question that may have occurred to Nicodemus was: Why? Or he may have been stuck on wondering how one man dying on a cross would help anyone achieve eternal life. The old system, the Law, involved numerous sacrifices and a rigid code of "Thou shalt not's", plus the festival observances and ceremonies. Jesus told them that the Son of Man would die on a cross and everyone who believes gets eternal life. It's no wonder that Nicodemus took some time to digest this change. The world has trouble accepting the new covenant even to this day. We want to earn our salvation. Jesus says in these verses that He is the price of salvation. Tomorrow, we'll read why Jesus is paying that price.

Have another Thursday in Christ, and spread the good news!

Bucky