LOOK UP WITH FAITH TO THE CRUCIFIED JESUS AND LIVE

⏰Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent (31 March 2020)

📕Num 21:4-9; Ps 102:1-2, 15-17, 18-20 (R.v.1); John 8:21-30

🎤LOOK UP WITH FAITH TO THE CRUCIFIED JESUS AND LIVE

My dear, the Cross is a very important part of our Christian faith. The cross is the symbol of suffering in the life of Jesus and we cannot fully know Jesus without the cross.

The impatience of the people of Israel towards God and Moses (Num 21:4-5) was an expression of distrust, and through that, the Israelites separated themselves from God who has been protecting them from dangers. So we must understand that expression of God sending fiery serpents upon them to mean that God turned his face away from them when he could not condone their sins such that things that were not able to harm them before began to harm them.

That is equally our story. Sometimes, we are too impatient with God and that leads us into committing sins that separate us from God and makes us vulnerable to the manipulation of the evil one. But the joyous thing is that God never abandons us. Just as he made the bronze molded fiery serpent as avenue for resuscitation for the dying Israelites (Num 21:8), so through Christ, those separated from God through sin are united back to God (see John 12:32) and gain eternal life (John 3:14).

However, that all important healing requires strong faith. Remember that distrust was the sin; healing would necessarily begin with trust. Anyone who is bitten by the serpent needed to look up to the molded serpent to be healed. Anyone who equally needs to be healed by Christ must believe and look up to his cross (John 3:15).

Are you ready to embrace the cross with faith? It is always promising to do so. As we do so, may Jesus help us carry the crosses that weigh us down in our lives and grant us a share in eternal life which he offers to all who believe in him. Amen.

Have a fruitful time at the foot of the Cross. Peace be with you.