Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-21
Signs point the
way to places, identify roads and businesses, mark historical sites and events.
Signs help us get where we want to go.
My family and I
lived for a time in the township of Coloma, Michigan, near Little Paw Paw Lake.
We lived about 25 miles from the church. When people from the church were
coming to our house, I gave them directions from the Interstate exit. They
would need to watch for road signs, and turn at the appropriate intersections
and business landmarks, identifiable by the signs out front.
But, when people
from Coloma wanted directions to the house, I gave them different directions. I
started by asking a couple of questions. “How long have you been in Coloma?” If
they answered, “A long time,” then I asked another question. “Do you know where
Chicken Ed’s used to be?” If they said yes, then I could give them directions
from the corner where the best restaurant in the area was, until it burned
down. We were just a mile and a half north of “where Chicken Ed’s used to be.”
Even though
Chicken Ed’s was nothing but a vacant lot, it was still a landmark for folks
who had been around town for a long time. It was a sign that pointed to a
favorite place and good memories even though it no longer existed.
... In the
wilderness, the Israelites were tired of wandering and waiting to be settled in
their new home. They wanted regular home-cooked meals and plenty of water. So,
they did what we all would do. They complained to Moses and to God. In
response, God sent poisonous snakes. So many people died of snake bites that
the people apologized for complaining. They confessed their sin, and God told
Moses how to help the people who were bitten. Moses was to craft a bronze
serpent and raise it up on a pole so the people could see it and be healed. God
did not banish the snakes, only provided a cure for the venom. God provided a
sign for the people and centuries later, they still remembered it.
Just before our
Gospel reading for today, Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus about being
born again. Nicodemus doesn’t understand, and Jesus tries a different approach.
He reminds Nicodemus of this story of the snake on a pole. Just as the serpent
lifted up on a pole was a sign of healing and salvation for the ancient
Israelites, so Jesus lifted up on a pole would be a sign of healing and
salvation for those who believe in him. We call Jesus’ pole a cross, and it is
for all Christians a sign pointing to the Son of God who gave up his life for
us.
John’s Gospel
tells of seven signs which point to Jesus as the Son of God, and the same being
as God. In the other gospels, the signs would be called miracles: changing
water into wine, healing the blind man, raising Lazarus from the dead, and so
forth. But John intentionally calls them signs, so that they point beyond the miraculous
event to Jesus and through him to God.
... If we think
about it, there are signs throughout scripture, signs pointing to God’s love
for us, to God’s purposes, and to God’s justice. The rainbow is a sign of the
promise God made to Noah to always have a relationship with his and Mrs Noah’s
descendants.
The stars of the
sky, the sands of the desert, the birth of Isaac, and circumcision were signs
of God’s promises to Abraham and Sarah that they would have uncountable
descendants, land, reputation, and a relationship with God.
The plagues, the
Passover, the Exodus were signs of God’s continuing promises to the Israelites.
The leadership of
Saul, David, and Solomon were signs of God’s unbroken promises to the people.
The Temple, the
destruction of the temple, the exile to Babylon, and the return to Jerusalem
were more signs of God’s promise to have an on-going relationship with the
people.
The Prophets were
signs reminding the people of God’s plans and purposes.
Those promises
never end. The signs have been there all along for us to notice and pay
attention to. Most of the signs themselves are gone.
Noah’s ark is
gone, but the rainbow remains.
Abraham and
Sarah’s descendants are without number, as numerous as the stars and the grains
of sand.
The Passover and
Exodus are vivid memories, relived every year by faithful Jews around the
world.
The Kings of Israel
were mostly failures, but a few stand out for us as signs pointing to a healthy
relationship with God.
The temple was
destroyed, twice, and now a mosque is in its place. But we know where it was,
and we can visit the plaza and the Western Wall which remain, as signs pointing
to the place where faithful Jews gathered for worship.
After Jesus’
life, death, and resurrection, we have the sign of the cross; we have the sign
of the empty tomb. We have the signs of the witnesses who saw the risen Jesus,
recorded for us in the Bible. We have the sign of the healings performed by the
disciples in the years of the early church. We have the sign of the blood of
the martyrs, soaked into the dirt, but remembered for their faith in Jesus.
In our lifetimes,
there have most likely been countless signs pointing us to Jesus and through
him to God, although we may not have noticed them at the time. Some of those
signs might be our grandma’s Bible stuffed with bookmarks, or her crochet hook
and knitting needles. There might have been our father toolbox. Our sign might
have been a devotional story in a booklet, which spoke right to us, or a
favorite song or hymn. A sign pointing to Jesus might have been a friend’s hand
held out in invitation, or an event, or an experience of undeserved forgiveness.
Most of the signs
in my life have been people: my Godparents, a grandmother, several friends, a
boss, my children. An important sign was an education and evangelism program
called “Word and Witness” which helped me understand that we all have faith
stories, and that our stories are all connected to each other through our relationship
with God.
What were the
signs in your life that led you to Jesus, or helped refresh your faith in him?
Who were the people? What were the events or items which pointed you to a life
in relationship with God? I’d love it if you’d send me an email or leave me a
note about some of the signs in your life. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful
collection of stories?
Please pray with
me. Gracious God, you have given us so many signs, so many ways to help us find
our way to you, and hear you calling to us. Help us also be signs pointing the
way for those who are looking for you. Amen
