Unbreakable (MPLS)

Numbers 21:4–9

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

John 3:14–21

Jesus said: “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.’ Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

‘Text Message’ Reflection:
From Pastor Heather Roth Johnson

Snakes take center stage in both the old and new testaments. Moses in the book of Numbers saved the people from an infestation of snakes by God’s power. God instructed Moses to wrap a snake on a pole, to lift it up, and anyone who was bitten could look at that snake and be saved.

Jesus referenced this story in Gospel reading. Just like the people were saved by the lifting up the snake on a pole, Jesus compared this to himself as a foreshadowing of this death, that he too will be lifted up to save the people. Jesus then speaks the most beloved Bible verse: “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Snakes in the Bible represent evil, the devil, or even death. But both of these stories promise something more: salvation! Jesus speaks of the goodness of God, of a God who saves, of a God who promises life for all people. Thanks be to God!

‘Text Message’ Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever had an encounter with a “snake?” What kind of snake was it, or was it not a real snake?
• Can sometimes situations or a person can be snaky? How do you react or respond?
• How do you lift people up? What does John 3:16 mean to you?

Prayer:

Gracious God, you sent your son to save us from the snakes of life. You give us the love we need in this world to carry on your mission of care. We give you thanks for this eternal call to walk humbly with you in this life and the next. Amen.