29.03.2013 Views

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Man, <strong>the</strong> embodiment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kingdom <strong>of</strong> Heaven,<br />

<strong>and</strong> thus <strong>the</strong> only true Teacher come from God. Or<br />

did Nicodemus think <strong>of</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r Teacher—<br />

^hi<strong>the</strong>rto <strong>the</strong>ir only Teacher, Moses—whom<br />

Jewish tradition generally believed to have<br />

ascended into <strong>the</strong> very heavens, in order to bring<br />

<strong>the</strong> teaching unto <strong>the</strong>m ? * Let <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> Moses,<br />

<strong>the</strong>n, teach <strong>the</strong>m! <strong>The</strong>y thought <strong>the</strong>y understood his<br />

teaching, but <strong>the</strong>re was one symbol in his history<br />

before which tradition literally stood dumb. Tbej<br />

had heard what Moses had taught <strong>the</strong>m; <strong>the</strong>y had<br />

seen ^ <strong>the</strong> earthly things' <strong>of</strong> Ood in <strong>the</strong> Manna<br />

which had rained from heaven—<strong>and</strong>, in view <strong>and</strong><br />

hearing <strong>of</strong> it all, <strong>the</strong>y had not believed, but<br />

murmured <strong>and</strong> rebelled. <strong>The</strong>n came <strong>the</strong> judgment <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> fiery serpents, <strong>and</strong>, in answer to repentant<br />

prayer, <strong>the</strong> symbol <strong>of</strong> new hciTigy a life restored<br />

frx)m death, as <strong>the</strong>y looked on <strong>the</strong>ir no longer<br />

living but dead death lifted up before <strong>the</strong>m. A<br />

symbol this, showing forth two elements:<br />

negatively, <strong>the</strong> putting away <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> past in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

dead death (<strong>the</strong> serpent no longer living, but a<br />

brazen serpent); <strong>and</strong> positively, in <strong>the</strong>ir look <strong>of</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!