And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man (John 1:51).
This promise to Nathanael is a promise to all believers. Here we see the true meaning of Jacob's dream, when he saw vast shadowy stairs that seemed to lead from earth to the very gates of heaven. The Lord stood at the top of this ladder, and the angels passed up and down.
The mystic ladder of this dream represents Jesus, the only true mediator and medium of communion between earth and heaven, between God and humanity. He is the "new and living way" (Heb. 10:20). He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
"Through Christ, earth is again linked with heaven. With His own merits, Christ has bridged the gulf which sin had made, so that the ministering angels can hold communion with man. Christ connects fallen man in his weakness and helplessness with the Source of infinite power" (Steps to Christ, p. 20).
Think of it--prayers ascending, answers coming down by way of Jesus, the Mediator. Think of this ladder coming right down into your house and mine, right by you as you read these lines. Heaven and earth will never be far apart again, for "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" (2 Cor. 5:19).
The phrase "Son of man" occurs 79 times in the Gospels and identifies our Savior with us, for He "was made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:7).
Around our pillows golden ladders rise,
And up and down the skies,
With winged sandals shod,
The angels come and go, the messengers of God!
__R. H. Stoddard
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds" (Ps. 36:5).
This promise to Nathanael is a promise to all believers. Here we see the true meaning of Jacob's dream, when he saw vast shadowy stairs that seemed to lead from earth to the very gates of heaven. The Lord stood at the top of this ladder, and the angels passed up and down.
The mystic ladder of this dream represents Jesus, the only true mediator and medium of communion between earth and heaven, between God and humanity. He is the "new and living way" (Heb. 10:20). He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
"Through Christ, earth is again linked with heaven. With His own merits, Christ has bridged the gulf which sin had made, so that the ministering angels can hold communion with man. Christ connects fallen man in his weakness and helplessness with the Source of infinite power" (Steps to Christ, p. 20).
Think of it--prayers ascending, answers coming down by way of Jesus, the Mediator. Think of this ladder coming right down into your house and mine, right by you as you read these lines. Heaven and earth will never be far apart again, for "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" (2 Cor. 5:19).
The phrase "Son of man" occurs 79 times in the Gospels and identifies our Savior with us, for He "was made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:7).
Around our pillows golden ladders rise,
And up and down the skies,
With winged sandals shod,
The angels come and go, the messengers of God!
__R. H. Stoddard
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds" (Ps. 36:5).
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