Word of the Week

Word of the Week: Fasten, Fetter, Fix, Focus

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I shall raise him up at the last day.
John 6:40

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believes in him may have eternal life.


The Israelites were weary and impatient. God had delivered them from Egyptian slavery, but this fate seemed far worse. The crowds echoed with complaints and groans of the people- "Why didn't we stay in Egypt? At least we were fed!" Miserable and hungry, the people forgot their God.
God sent venimous snakes among them, many were bitten and died. Dying from snake bites was deemed worse than hunger and disatisfaction with the food.
Realizing their sin, the Israelites begged Moses to pray for them- "Ask God to remove these creatures from our midst!"
The Lord answered Moses.
Moses was instructed to create a snake and fix it to a pole. All those bitten by the venimous beasts could look to the snake... and they would live.

Fast forward...

Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus (and others we presume) what it means to be born again. He claims to be the Son of Man, the Messiah, the only one who has been in the presence of God. And this Son of Man is the only one who has the right and authority to save the world from their condemnation.
Jesus explains, just as Moses lifted up the serpent (the serpent which cured all dying who looked to it) so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever looks to him, might not die, but live...everlasting life.


This is a beautiful analogy. Simple, yet multi-faceted.

When Moses lifted up the serpent the people needed only to gaze at the serpent to be healed. In the same way we need only look to Christ to be saved. The simplicity highlights the inability we have in our own salvation. The power lies not in ourselves...for we are only looking. The power is in the object we behold.

We are just to look to Christ...yet there is indication that "looking" isn't a mere acknowledgement of existence. John 3:15 uses the word "believes" instead of "looks" when connecting the Snake story in the OT with the Son of Man being lifted up.

John 6:40 links "looks" and believes" together... "whoever looks to the Son and believes in him shall have life..."

This "gazing to Christ" is more than a glance. In looking to Christ we don't merely glance and then look away. It is a CONSTANT fixation... an attentive focus. The power and glory all rests upon Christ. Looking to Christ constantly, we fasten ourselves to Him.

What does this look like?
All hope and trust are put in Christ...and this brings true rest.
After all, his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

Fettering ourselves to Christ, we become his bondservants. Fixed on him. Focused on Him. Fastened to Him.
And by this we endure... because it is through him that we persevere.
...looking to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, we run the race before us with endurance.

It seems appropriate to leave off with this song verse:

Let thy goodness
like a fetter
bind my wandering heart
to Thee