January 2: Accepting His Love.
His Love.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."--John 3:16.
I had barely opened the door of my second-floor condo when I was shocked by the sight of a big snake! I instinctively jumped back and ran out. Later I called my neighbors and the department of animal control, and someone came and got the reptile out of my place. But it took me many months to get over the trauma.
This experience reminds me how Jesus used a snake to teach us about salvation and love. Snakes have a way of getting our attention, but that's not the reason why Jesus reminded Nicodemus of an ancient experience with these animals as a visualization of Himself and how God loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die. In this first extended dialogue in John's Gospel, Jesus is explaining God's love and salvation to a teacher of the law. Nicodemuus, judging by the signs Christ was doing, starts with an impressive assertion about Jesus having come from God (John 3:2). But Jesus does not engage in reciprocal flattery; instead, He tells Nicodemus that he must be born again (verses 5, 7). When Nicodemus misinterprets Jesus' words, the Savior resorts to the history of Israel. He alludes to an event recorded in Numbers 21:4-9, when venomous serpents started biting the Israelites after God had withdrawn His protection due to their unbelief. God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and place it on a pole. Whoever looked at it would be saved. And Jesus, explaining the gospel to Nicodemus, says: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. For God so loved the world" (John 3:14-16). Yes, God's unfailing love is so amazing that He provided the Antidote for His sinful children. Jesus is heaven's greatest Gift! As much as we enjoy healthy love in this world, it is still stained by our sin and shortcomings. Yet God's love for us is perfect and unfailing, and we can always count on it! For God so loved you...that He gave His Son!
My Response:____________________________________________________
His Love.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."--John 3:16.
I had barely opened the door of my second-floor condo when I was shocked by the sight of a big snake! I instinctively jumped back and ran out. Later I called my neighbors and the department of animal control, and someone came and got the reptile out of my place. But it took me many months to get over the trauma.
This experience reminds me how Jesus used a snake to teach us about salvation and love. Snakes have a way of getting our attention, but that's not the reason why Jesus reminded Nicodemus of an ancient experience with these animals as a visualization of Himself and how God loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die. In this first extended dialogue in John's Gospel, Jesus is explaining God's love and salvation to a teacher of the law. Nicodemuus, judging by the signs Christ was doing, starts with an impressive assertion about Jesus having come from God (John 3:2). But Jesus does not engage in reciprocal flattery; instead, He tells Nicodemus that he must be born again (verses 5, 7). When Nicodemus misinterprets Jesus' words, the Savior resorts to the history of Israel. He alludes to an event recorded in Numbers 21:4-9, when venomous serpents started biting the Israelites after God had withdrawn His protection due to their unbelief. God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and place it on a pole. Whoever looked at it would be saved. And Jesus, explaining the gospel to Nicodemus, says: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. For God so loved the world" (John 3:14-16). Yes, God's unfailing love is so amazing that He provided the Antidote for His sinful children. Jesus is heaven's greatest Gift! As much as we enjoy healthy love in this world, it is still stained by our sin and shortcomings. Yet God's love for us is perfect and unfailing, and we can always count on it! For God so loved you...that He gave His Son!
My Response:____________________________________________________
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