BELIEVED

John 3:14-15
“…just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”
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It was 7 o’clock in the morning. We are all gathered in the school ground waiting for the start of the morning ceremony. We all stood straight, the right palm on our breast, right in front of the heart. And we sang, with gusto, the national anthem, while looking upward to the Philippine flag. It is to show respect to our country, being symbolized by the flag. It is to uplift our spirit of nationality, so as long as we live, we may serve our country to the best of our ability. Look up, young man… Look up!!!

In the gospel today, Jesus made a hint about His upcoming death. He likened it to what happened centuries ago in the time of Moses. When the nation of Israel was invaded by fiery serpents, God told Moses to raise a brass serpent on a pole. Everyone that looked at the serpent lifted up on the pole was healed. It was a long pole often with a cross bar near the top to hold the ensign or flag of the tribe or military unit, used as “a rallying point or standard which drew people together for some common action.” And people once gain believed that God is alive.

And in the new testament, it was Jesus who was lifted up. He was crucified, suffered and died so our sins may be forgiven. Jesus had to be lifted up on the cross so that he could heal us of our sins. Just as the brass serpent was raised on the pole for the healing of Israel, so Jesus was raised on the cross for the healing of the world.

Jesus loves you just as much as he did Nicodemus. Even though we follow Jesus in faith, it is not a blind faith. Over the years, God has shown us time after time how He has His hand on us: whether it was his protecting hand, his healing hand, or his strengthening hand. We must always walk in faith. But we have seen God perform his wonders in our life so many times, that we learn to trust him along the way.

Lord Jesus, when I look at You on that cross, may I be like Nicodemus in understanding and believing You. You were lifted up on that cross for us. You were lifted up on that cross to heal us from all our sins. We believe in You for You alone is the Lord, our salvation, the giver of eternal life.

The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.