During Sunday’s service I spoke about the
medical symbol that was featured on the front of our church bulletin.
We have probably seen this symbol many times and not understood that there is a biblical origin. I used the children’s sermon to explain the significance of this snake wrapped around a pole. It comes from a story in the Old Testament book of Numbers 21:4-9. Read it for yourself if you’re not familiar with it.
This story was the basis for the mythical tale of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. And it is the rod of Asclepius that medical students learn is the meaning behind the medical symbol that has been adopted and accepted today. But it is clearly a myth that was based on the actual event that took place in the wilderness during Moses’ journey to the Promised Land with the Hebrew people.
The story is an obvious foreshadowing of Christ being lifted up on a pole (a Roman cross) to provide spiritual healing for those who looked to him for salvation.
There are many examples in Scripture in which Jesus is foretold as the promised Messiah. For instance, in Matthew 12 (and elsewhere in the Gospels), Jesus is challenged by the religious leaders to show them proof of his divinity. But Jesus responded: “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” (v.39). The sign of Jonah refers to the Old Testament prophet’s three-day submersion in the belly of a whale. This foreshadowed Jesus’ three-days spent in the belly of the earth (the tomb).
The Bible contains many “hidden” messages like this. But they are only hidden to those who are closed-minded and hard-hearted. For those that have ears to hear and eyes to see, the messages will be clearly understood. You just have to look hard enough: “Seek and you shall find” (Matt. 6:33)
During my devotional time just the other day, I came across a prophetic hint that I’d never noticed before. It’s found in Mark 1:6 which describes the appearance and behavior of John the Baptist. John was kind of a weird guy. He probably would have got along well with many of the “hippies” of the 1960’s or fit in well with the bohemian lifestyle of modern-day gypsies. John the Baptist was Jesus’s cousin. He was a voice in the desert, preparing the way of the Lord and making His paths straight (which is a creative way of saying that he was “rolling out the red carpet” to make it easier for people to find their way to God). Being a wanderer, such as he was, John the Baptist lived an austere life in the wilderness outside of the populated areas in Israel. His ministry was so unique that people took note of the way he dressed and what he ate: John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Now there is a detail within that verse that I never noticed before. It is a detail that actually explains God’s plan of salvation without revealing it outright. The verse tells us that John the Baptist ate locusts and honey. Locusts are insects that swarm and are most often associated in the Bible with plagues or pestilence. They are a sign of judgment. The eighth plague in Egypt prior to the Exodus was a swarm of locust that covered the land and destroyed all of the crops in Egypt.
By the way, I saw my first cicada yesterday. We’ve been warned that they were coming this year. And sure enough, I found this little guy propped up on the front step of the church parsonage yesterday. They are harmless, of course, but they do make quite a racket!
Now imagine a bug like this covered in sweet honey. Would you eat it? John the Baptist did!
So now that you know the kind of fellow we’re talking about, what makes John the Baptist’s daily diet a clue to God’s plan of salvation? These two menu items are descriptive of the Gospel message. The true Gospel message consists of two things: the Law of Moses, and the Grace of God. You can’t have one without the other. The Law of Moses shows us the depth of our depravity and our utter inability to obey the Commands of God. That’s the bad news. That’s like swallowing a locust!
But the Law is followed by Grace which goes down much smoother. Because we cannot keep the Law on our own, we have the gift of God’s Grace to help us survive the plague of sin and receive the sweet blessing of eternal life. The Gospel literally is a message of “locusts and honey”. It is only when sinners see they are in terrible danger that they will cry out for the mercy of God! The plague of God’s wrath is satisfied by the sweet honey of His amazing grace! Do you see the connection now between John’s diet and God’s plan of salvation? This is just another example of how the Scriptures, when properly digested (pun intended) reveal such incredible spiritual truths to our hungry (pun intended again) hearts 😊
Prayer: Lord, help me to follow the example of John who was a shining light to those in darkness and in the shadow of death. I ask that I be prompted to tell sinners to prepare the way for the Lord and make every path to him straight as an arrow. Like John, if there are riches that hinder my way—force me to toss them aside. If the love of a man or woman, love of family, or sports, or the love of the praises of men get in the way, may I push those things aside and give You the rightful place in my heart and life. Show me the secret places in your Word where Your plan of salvation and Christ the Messiah are revealed. Confirm my faith by the witness of your Holy Word. In Jesus name, Amen.
Sincerely in Christ,
J. T. Bean
Lead Pastor
Ebenezer Reformed Church
309 E. Park Street
Morrison, IL 61270
Phone: (815) 772-2472
www.ercmorrison.com
📖 Isaiah 55:6
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Reflection Questions:
- Can you think of any other stories in the Bible that are clues pointing to Jesus as the promised Messiah?
- Why do you think so many people fail to recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy?
- What can you do to increase your evangelistic passion?
- Who in your life needs to hear the message of salvation?
- Will you humble yourself and have the courage to tell them?
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