Christ is the Center

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by Martin Luther

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. (John 3:14)

When Moses lifted up the snake on a pole, many Israelites disapproved of God’s command to look at it because it wasn’t pleasant. Only believing Israelites–and no one else–understood and were healed because of their faith in the Word. Who else but our Lord could have used this story to point to Christ? I never would have bee so bold to interpret this story the way Christ did. He explains it by pointing to himself and saying, "That is the bronze snake, But I am the Son of Man. The Israelites had to look at the snake with their eyes. But you must look at me with the eyes of faith. They were cured of a physical poison. But through me, you will be redeemed from an eternal poison. Looking at the snake means believing in me. Their bodies were healed. But I will give eternal life to those who believe in me." These are strange statements and an extraordinary teaching.

With these words, the Lord gives us the proper way to interpret the Old Testament. He helps us understand that the writers and prophets of the Old Testament point to Christ with their stories and illustrations. Christ shows us that he is the center point from which the entire circle is drawn. Everyone looks toward him. Whoever follows Christ belongs in that same circle. All the stories in Holy Scripture, it they are interpreted correctly, point toward Christ.

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3 thoughts on “Christ is the Center”

  1. And it can’t be that easy, can it? I mean just looking at that serpent, it must be harder than that. What about salves, bandages, and other medicines? Yes, those surely must help. But just look? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved. It can’t be that easy, can it? What about baptism, good works, church membership, and other religious activities? Yes, surely they must help. Oh no! It is so simple it becomes difficult for man’s pride to deny himself completely and believe on Jesus as his ONLY Lord. And someone rightly said that “Christ shows us that He is the center point from which the entire circle is drawn”. Oh yea, you said that Mike. And all God’s people said “Amen and Amen!”.

  2. The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe… Why do we keep trying to make it more complicated than that? Perhaps because we refuse to acknowledge that we are utterly dependent on our sovereign God…powerless to save ourselves. It is difficult to convince stiff-necked sinners to look up and be saved through the watered down seeker-centered messages espoused in so many churches today. This Christ-centered devotion was powerfully refreshing…

  3. Yes, our pride tells us that we must work hard or try to be worthy of salvation, but Christ says, forget that–come to me, believe on me, die to self, take up your cross and follow me and oh by the way, the power to do all that is mine, you just believe. Amazing. What I like about this is that we know this while there are untold thousands of so-called Christians out there who think God is pretty lucky to have them sign on. Sad, really sad.

    In Christ

    Mike Ratliff

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