Looking to the Cross: Healing Through Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Looking to Christ Crucified for Healing and Life

Just as the Israelites were saved by looking at the bronze serpent lifted up in the wilderness, so too are we called to look to Jesus, who was lifted up on the cross, for the healing of our souls and the forgiveness of our sins. The venom of sin runs deep in every human heart, but God, in His mercy, provides a cure that seems foolish to the world: faith in the crucified and risen Christ. When we turn away from our own efforts and trust in God's promise, we find true freedom and life, even when it defies our understanding. [42:24]

John 12:23-32 (ESV)
And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to look for healing or fulfillment apart from Christ? How can you intentionally turn your gaze to Jesus and His cross today?

Day 2: The Deadly Venom of Sin and the Need for Repentance

The story of the Israelites and the fiery serpents is a sobering reminder that sin is not just a mistake but a deadly poison that separates us from God. Like the Israelites, we often grumble, turn away, and even despise the good gifts God gives us, convincing ourselves that the ways of the world are better. Yet, God’s law, though it stings, is a mercy that awakens us to our need for repentance and His saving grace. [40:34]

Numbers 21:4-9 (ESV)
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Reflection: In what ways have you turned away from God’s gifts or grumbled against Him? Take a moment to confess these honestly to God and ask for His mercy.

Day 3: The Power of Confession and God’s Gift of Forgiveness

When we conceal our sins, we remain trapped and unhealed, but when we confess and forsake them, God promises mercy and forgiveness through Christ. The assurance of forgiveness is not based on our worthiness but on God’s grace, given as a gift through the redemption that is in Jesus. In confession, we are invited to lay down our burdens and receive the peace that comes from being justified by faith. [13:16]

Romans 3:23-24 (ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Is there a sin or burden you have been hiding or carrying alone? What would it look like to bring it before God in honest confession and receive His forgiveness today?

Day 4: The Importance of Training the Next Generation in Faith

The choices we make as parents and mentors deeply shape the spiritual lives of our children. When we prioritize worldly activities over worship, prayer, and the life of the church, we teach the next generation that God is optional. But when we model faithfulness, repentance, and love for God’s Word and sacraments, we help our children learn to look to Jesus for life and hope, even in a world full of distractions and temptations. [36:13]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can help a child or young person in your life see the importance of faith in Christ this week?

Day 5: Trusting God’s Promises in Word and Sacrament

God attaches His promises to ordinary things—His Word, bread and wine—inviting us to trust that He is truly present and at work for our salvation. Though it may seem irrational or unimpressive to the world, faith receives these gifts as the very means by which God feeds, forgives, and sustains us on our journey to the promised land. We are called to turn from self-reliance and skepticism, and instead, embrace the mystery and power of God’s promises given for us. [44:20]

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Reflection: How can you approach God’s Word and the Lord’s Supper with renewed trust and expectation, believing that He is truly present and working for your good?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered under the sign of the cross, remembering that Christ was lifted up for the forgiveness of our sins and the redemption of the world. The cross stands as both a symbol of suffering and the ultimate sign of God’s love and mercy. We reflected on the story of the Israelites in the wilderness, who, despite being freed from slavery and provided for by God, grumbled and turned against Him. Their rebellion led to the Lord sending fiery serpents among them—a painful but merciful wake-up call, reminding them of the deadly consequences of turning away from God. Yet, even in judgment, God provided a way of healing: those who looked in faith to the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses were saved.

This Old Testament account points us directly to Christ. Just as the Israelites were bitten by serpents and needed healing, so too have we all been bitten by the ancient serpent—sin and death have infected every one of us. The venom of sin is not just an external problem; it runs deep within, affecting our desires, our priorities, and our willingness to follow God. Too often, we turn our backs on the Lord, prioritizing the things of this world over His gifts, and even teaching our children by our example that faith is optional or secondary.

But God, in His mercy, does not leave us in our rebellion. He calls us to repentance, not to shame us, but to heal us. The cross of Christ is the fulfillment of the promise made in the wilderness: all who look to Jesus, lifted up for us, are cured of the poison of sin. This is not a matter of our works or understanding, but of faith in God’s word and promise. The sacraments—bread and wine, Christ’s body and blood—are given to us as tangible assurances of this forgiveness and new life. Even when the world mocks or dismisses the cross as foolishness, God’s faithfulness remains. We are called to turn away from the world and its empty promises, to look to Christ, and to trust that in Him, we have true freedom, healing, and eternal life.

Key Takeaways

1. The venom of sin is a reality for every person, not just an abstract concept. Like the Israelites, we are prone to grumble, turn away from God, and seek comfort in the world, often without realizing the depth of our rebellion. Recognizing the seriousness of sin is the first step toward genuine repentance and healing. [33:45]
2. God’s law, though it stings and convicts, is a profound act of mercy. The pain of conviction is meant to awaken us to our need for God’s grace, not to drive us to despair. Just as the fiery serpents led the Israelites to seek God’s help, so the law leads us to the cross, where true healing is found. [40:34]
3. Faith is not about understanding or testing God’s promises, but about trusting them. The Israelites were not saved by the bronze serpent itself, but by believing God’s word attached to it. In the same way, we are called to trust in Christ and His sacraments, even when they seem ordinary or irrational to the world. [44:20]
4. The way we live and the priorities we set—especially for our children—have eternal consequences. When we treat faith as optional or secondary, we teach the next generation to do the same, risking their spiritual well-being. Our calling is to model a life that looks to Christ first, even when it means saying no to the world’s demands. [36:13]
5. God can use even suffering and loss for our good and His glory. The hardships we face, whether personal or communal, can become opportunities for repentance, growth, and witness. Rather than longing for a return to “better days,” we are invited to look to Jesus, embrace the cross, and trust that God is working all things for our salvation. [45:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:30] - Announcements and Fellowship
[08:01] - Upcoming Events and Stew Supper
[10:53] - Opening Hymn: Lift High the Cross
[13:16] - Confession and Absolution
[17:06] - Psalm 98 and Prayer
[21:58] - Gospel Reading: John 12
[23:58] - Nicene Creed
[28:22] - Grace, Mercy, and Peace
[29:28] - The Problem of Name-Calling and Truth
[30:52] - The Israelites’ Rebellion and Fiery Serpents
[32:56] - The Venom of Sin and Our Response
[36:13] - The Impact of Priorities on Faith and Family
[40:34] - The Law as Mercy and the Call to Repentance
[42:24] - The Bronze Serpent and the Promise Fulfilled
[44:20] - The Cross, Sacraments, and Faith
[45:07] - Suffering, Martyrdom, and Hope
[46:22] - Final Call to Repentance and Faith
[53:05] - Communion and Thanksgiving
[55:33] - Words of Institution
[70:27] - Departing Hymn and Benediction
[72:58] - Closing and Farewell

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Looking to the Cross for Healing and Life

Bible Reading

Numbers 21:4-9 (ESV)
> From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

John 12:20-33 (ESV)
> [Read especially verses 32-33]
> “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

Observation Questions

What was the reason God sent fiery serpents among the Israelites in the wilderness? (Numbers 21:4-6)
How did the Israelites respond after the serpents came, and what did God instruct Moses to do? (Numbers 21:7-9)
According to the sermon, what does the “venom of sin” represent in our lives today? [33:45]
In John 12, what does Jesus mean when He says, “when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself”? [23:08]

Interpretation Questions

The Israelites grumbled and turned away from God even after being freed from slavery. What does this reveal about the human heart and our tendency to forget God’s goodness? [32:56]
The sermon says that God’s law, though it stings, is actually a mercy. Why might conviction and discomfort be necessary for true repentance and healing? [40:34]
The Israelites were not saved by the bronze serpent itself, but by believing God’s promise attached to it. How does this parallel our faith in Christ and the sacraments? [44:20]
The way we set priorities for ourselves and our children can have eternal consequences. What are some ways we might unintentionally teach the next generation that faith is optional? [36:13]

Application Questions

The sermon describes how easy it is to “turn our backs on the Lord” and prioritize the things of this world. What is one area of your life where you are tempted to put something above your relationship with God? What would it look like to “turn back” toward Him this week? [33:45]
The Israelites’ suffering from the serpents was a wake-up call. Has there been a time in your life when God used hardship or loss to get your attention or draw you closer to Him? How did you respond? [45:07]
The pastor mentioned that when we treat faith as optional, we teach our children the same. What are some practical ways you can model a life that puts Christ first for your family or those around you? [36:13]
The world often sees the cross and the sacraments as foolish or ordinary. Are there aspects of your faith that you find hard to trust or explain to others? How can you grow in trusting God’s promises even when they seem irrational? [44:20]
The “venom of sin” affects our desires and priorities. What is one specific desire or habit you want to bring before God in repentance? What step can you take this week to seek His healing? [33:45]
The sermon says God can use even suffering and loss for our good and His glory. Is there a current struggle you’re facing that you can ask God to use for your growth or as a witness to others? [45:07]
The Israelites had to look up at the bronze serpent to be healed. What does it look like for you, practically, to “look to Jesus” in your daily life? Is there a spiritual practice (prayer, Scripture, worship, communion) you want to renew or deepen? [42:24]

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you recognize the “venom” of sin in your life, to give you faith to look to Christ for healing, and to help you model a life of faith for others.

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