So the Lord God
said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are
you above all livestock and
all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly, and
you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I
will put enmity between you and the woman, and between
your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will
strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15)
Today, let’s begin looking at a series
of statements why Jesus came, first through Old Testament prophecy, and later though
Jesus’ own words. Today’s passage doesn’t fit the pattern of “He will come” or “I
will come,” but it expresses two reasons why He did come: to be injured and to crush
the head of the serpent.
This is a remarkable statement because
it’s the first time these ideas are expressed. First, he would come to be
injured. Does this statement give you goosebumps? Does it awaken your soul? It
should.
I have a pastor friend who once talked
about being a good husband. He’d do this, and he’d do that, to prove his love
for her. He’d gladly go fight dragons for her, but the idea of showing his love
by taking out the garbage, well… This statement is God’s proclamation of what
He will do for mankind. He’ll fight the dragon. He’ll be injured. His battle on
our behalf is going to cost Him. It’s not a show battle. He won’t be like
Superman taking on human bank robbers.
My life has lacked in the sort of
proclamations of love as described above, but we’re coming to the point in the
political cycle in which a slightly different
kind of courtship takes place. He promises are just as grandiose. When with
you by his/her side, the politician will be victorious, the opposing party, which
has likely been compared with some version of the devil, will have its head
crushed, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Cynic that I am, my response to this
sort of talk is,
Words! Words! Words!
I'm so sick of words!
I get words all day through;
First from him, now from you!
Is that all you blighters can
do?
Don't talk of stars Burning above;
If you're in love,Show me!
Tell me no dreams.Filled with desire.
If you're on fire,Show me! (Show Me, My Fair Lady)
And having survived several electoral
cycles, I have learned that I’m bound to be disappointed by the politicians. Most
of the gods I’ve heard about are no better. In fact, most can’t even be
bothered to notice me. Oh, I’ll be judged, and if I’ve made the curve, or performed
the right rituals, or somehow achieved enough, I might be granted entrance to Heaven,
but those gods don’t really have any skin in the game.
In today’s passage, God makes it clear
that He does. And history bears out His having fulfilled His promises.
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