![\"\"](\"https:\/\/faith-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/20170523133719\/Bringing-Hope-to-the-Hopeless-e1310765197636.jpg\" "\\"Bringing-Hope-to-the-Hopeless\\"")
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“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” \u2013 Jesus (Jn. 3:14) In Numbers 21, we find God’s chosen people in their typical cycle of sinning and then being disciplined by God. <\/em><\/strong>This cycle so characterized Israels history that, if it wasn’t so sad, it’d almost be comical.\u00a0 This time they were complaining about being released from their Egyptian captivity (of all things), and the fact that they didn’t have anything to eat or drink, and that they didn’t like the heavenly manna that God was continuing to provide daily.\u00a0 I know that’s hard to relate to, ’cause we don’t really struggle with complaining today…hmmm.\u00a0 So anyway, God at this point decides to get creative and sends poisonous snakes among the Israelite people.\u00a0 Numbers tells us that many people were bitten and died as a result.\u00a0 Pretty serious stuff.\u00a0 Well, the people of course immediately recognized and admitted their sin before God.\u00a0 So God, in His grace, made a way for the people to individually recognize their sin, repent and be healed.<\/strong><\/em> God told Moses to make a bronze replica of the poisonous snake and put it up on a pole.\u00a0 All that these hopeless people had to do was look at the snake on the pole, and they would be healed.<\/p>\n In John 3, we find Jesus, in the dark of night,\u00a0having a deep theological discussion with Nicodemus (a Pharisee, who was really seeking some answers).\u00a0 In the process of gently chiding Nicodemus, for not making much of an effort to understand spiritual insights, Jesus explains his purpose and mission on earth in terms that might resonate a bit more clearly with Nicodemus (who would have claimed to have been knowledgeable in all things “Moses”).\u00a0 Jesus says, “No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. <\/span>And, as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,<\/span> <\/strong><\/em>so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”<\/strong><\/em> Wow! Jesus was claiming to have the power to save people from death in the same way that the people bitten by poisonous snakes were saved.\u00a0 But he was saying so much more than that.\u00a0 Jesus speaks of something infinitely more important…eternal life. <\/span><\/p>\n What if you had a pole with a bronze snake on it, and you knew without a doubt that if people would look at it they would be saved from death?\u00a0 Man, I’d take that pole with me everywhere!\u00a0 It’d be leaning up against the wall next to my table at Starbucks.\u00a0 I’d strap it on the back of my motorcycle and take it with me everywhere.\u00a0 It might feel a bit strange at first, but the weird stares and questions from people would only encourage me to explain it’s meaning all the more. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong>If you’re a believer and follower of Christ, you are, in essence, walking around with a pole\u00a0that has\u00a0a bronze snake on it (potentially anyway).\u00a0 You’re filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 You have the ability to lift up Christ before hopeless people.\u00a0 You have the ability to draw people’s attention to Christ by how you live, what you say, and how you respond to hopelessness.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/strong>How do you plan to bring hope to a person with none? Today, or this week?\u00a0 Do you know anyone who has lost hope?\u00a0 That might be the first step.\u00a0 If your life is so insulated that you never come into meaningful contact with hopeless people, you’re completely missing God’s purpose and mission for your life.\u00a0 Don’t take my word for it.\u00a0 Just read the gospel of Matthew.\u00a0 You’re going to have to make some pro-active decisions if you plan to have opportunities to invest in those who are without hope.<\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\nWhat in the world is Jesus talking about?<\/h2>\n
Fast Forward<\/h2>\n
What if…<\/span><\/h2>\n
Lifting up Christ<\/span><\/h2>\n
What’s your plan?<\/h2>\n