To Look: To Heal

Have you ever heard of homeopathy? It is an alternative medicine with the theory that “like cures like.” Most homeopathic remedies include a portion of the ailment - or something that mimics the ailment to stimulate the bodies natural defense systems.


Both Craig and I have used it at different times over the years. I’m not advocating trying it per se, but our passage from Numbers brought it to mind.


The people are plagued by serpents and God gives them a serpent on a pole to cure their malady…


God purposely gives them a symbol of their ailment as the healing property…


The true ailment of the people is their grumbling. “They spoke against God and against Moses.” They detest the miserable food, the manna that God has provided. They forget their blessings. They turn away from Moses and God.


Putting up a Serpent as the antidote for the serpent bite is brilliant.


God has a biting sense of humor.


It’s as if God is saying, Look you’ve made an idol out of your bitterness…


Look closely at what ails you
And it will help to aid in your healing….


A great phrase I learned for Lent (and pretty good for anytime is to think about what you..


Nurse
Curse
And then Rehearse


What are the grumblings of our lives… the metaphorical idols that have gotten in the way of true healing?


God is saying turn to me for what ails you.


It is quite telling that the American Medical Association logo is the serpent on the pole.
They are saying,
“Come to us for what ails you.”


The story of Numbers is not about snakes. It is about healing.


What are the things you want to look at - to bring into the light and transform?


What are the things that you wish to bring God for healing?


What is it that keeps us from participating in the light with everything we’ve got?


This light is not simply daylight - but the light of Christ. The Gospel of John equates Jesus with the Light from the very beginning. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”


In our Gospel Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a Pharisee who came to him at night, wanting to know and understand more. He recognized Jesus as a great teacher. Jesus is speaking to him about being born again, born into everlasting life. (And perhaps about not seeking him out in the dark of night - sneaking around… but bringing his curiosity to the light of day.)


Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.


Jesus says come to me for what ails you. Your humanity is difficult: Your feelings, your bodies, your vulnerabilities - lift them up to me.


Jesus as the antidote for our human frailty was lifted onto the cross with open arms to embrace us all. He shows us his vulnerable humanity…


but he started with that embrace from the very beginning of his ministry ….to all those he encountered. He showed us the light.


He embraced us with the truth and with Love. He embraced us to show the bridge between humanity and God. To overcome that separation: the sin that we speak of.


God was with the people in their suffering. They forgot this. God provided manna. God provided leadership. God provided community. God forgives the people in the wilderness for their grumbling, for their impatience (even if it is in a curious way with a serpent on a poll).


God is always showing us ways into redemption: Ways into relationship and forgiveness…


God is always with us.
God is the light that shines in the darkness of our darkest hours.


Bring it - all of it to God.


For God is the great physician, your antidote: Jesus the suffering servant who gives you a piece of himself to show you your light.


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcomea it.”




Amen.