We have Christ's Cross Everyday

The cross of Jesus is for each one of us every day. Ancient Israel, avoiding military conflict with Edom, took an evasive route of travel in the surrounding desert. The multitude voiced their displeasure with both the quantity and the quality of provisions they had to live on. What happened to them because they refused to trust God is terrifying. God sent "fiery serpents" and many were bitten and died. A miracle occurred. Multitudes repented and turned to the God of their judgment as the God of their rescue. The Lord commanded that a replica of the fiery serpents be lifted up on a pole so it could be seen. God promised that all who looked at it would live. And so it was. There are many, many ideas about the symbolism of the "fiery serpent," what exactly the message was. Too much speculation causes us to miss the point of the account. The message of salvation was "look and live." God's Word of promise to the sinful people was "look and live." Jesus used this historical event to illuminate His historical work for sinful people. He was lifted up in the midst of the human race dying for their sin. He promises that all who look to Him (trust Him), the One who hung, was raised up, on a cross, will have everlasting life. We "look" upon Him through His promise of forgiveness in His Word. Every day we are in need of forgiveness; we need assurance that God is our God. In the cross of Jesus we have that assurance.