Jesus The Giver-life On The Cross

Numbers 21:4-9
John 8:21-30

There is no hiding place from God. Nothing is hidden from God. All our actions both public and private; even our innermost intention, are seen plainly before His very eyes. In other words, nothing is hidden from God’s presence. The Israelites in the first reading would not run away from the wrath of God that they themselves have caused by their perpetual sinful ways.

Fiery serpents haunted them throughout the camp and they had to run to Moses to pray to God for the safety of their lives. The Lord then commanded Moses to construct the bronze serpent and anyone who looked at it will be saved. When we commit sin, we reject God and when we reject God, our life is in danger and when our life is in danger, we are at total risk of losing it, because it has rejected God in the first place who is the source of life and eternal salvation.

In today’s gospel passage, we see that the Lord knows our hearts. He sees our consciences. Jesus told the Jews who seek Him; you seek me and yet you will die in your sins.How can we seek Jesus and yet be damned? Scripture and experience alike prove that men may reject God until God rejects them, and will not hear their prayer. They may go on stifling their convictions, quenching the light of conscience, fighting against their own better knowledge, until God is provoked to give them over and let them alone. It is not for nothing that these words are written–“Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me–for they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.” (Prov. 1:28, 29.)

Christ is the one who gave his life on the cross for us to have eternal life. There is no safety but in seeking Christ while He may be found, and calling on Him while He is near–seeking Him with a true heart, and calling on Him with an honest spirit. Such seeking, we may be very sure, is never in vain. It will never be recorded of such seekers, that they “died in their sins.” He that really comes to Christ shall never be “cast out.” The Lord has solemnly declared that “He has no pleasure in the death of him that dies,”–and that “He delights in mercy.” (Ezekiel 18:32; Micah 7:18.)

In Mark 16:16, Jesus says, ‘he that believes in Him not shall be damned.”In whatever situation, we find ourselves, may the Holy Spirit who is the giver of life constantly help us to always trust in God. and in humility follow His precepts. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho