March 8
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March 9
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Today's passages are very fascinating. The passage from Numbers and the passage from Mark show us contrasting pictures of Israel and the Messiah. As we've been talking about in Sunday school with the Senior High, the nation of Israel was called by God to bring the kingdom of God on earth. The land of Israel was given to them as a promised land whereby he would spread his kingdom throughout the whole creation. But here, we see that the Israelites doubted God and were unable to obey their Lord and take the land. This wasn't just a gift for them, but was meant to be part of God's mission to bring his kingdom on earth. In Mark instead we read about how Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, was brave on the eve of his own sacrifice. He was in agony over what was to come, but nonetheless was willing to complete the mission his Father sent him for. Also, the disciple Peter (the 12 disciples now represent the 12 tribes of Israel remember) was also afraid as the Israelites were in Numbers. this passage speaks of the 'new covenant' that was about to be enacted. The sacrifice of Jesus brings us the only path to salvation. The only way that we will be able to overcome this world. 'what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.'
March 8 comment:
ReplyDeleteI’m fascinated by Moses doubting God’s ability to feed the Israelites. Isn’t the same Moses that God had already used mightily? Yet, Moses, one of our Bible heroes, sometimes had doubt.
Our doubt can get in the way of God using us, but it doesn’t mean that God won’t use us at all.