Encounter with a snake
What do Moses and Bishop John have in common? They both had an encounter with a snake! Arthur Wherrett was there when it happened to Bishop John.
As reported in the Mercury (Tuesday 8 January) Bishop John had a dry bite (little or no venom). It was dusk when the snake struck. John was relaxing after storing hay for the donkeys.
Unfortunately, he decided to show me how a pile of willow poles were still growing after being removed from the nearby creek.
Moses raised up a bronze snake on a pole so that the Israelites could look on it and be healed. Bishop John did not think for a moment that a snake on the end of a willow pole would help anyone but he sure wished that this snake was on the opposite end to the one he grabbed! He was well cared for in hospital for the next 20 hours.
The parallel with Moses comes into focus in John 3:14,15. Bishop John agrees with the disciple John that 'Just as Moses lifted up the snake ... so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that anyone who believes in him (Jesus) may have eternal life.'
The snake bite was a clear reminder of how tenuous life is and how we all need to be sure where we will spend eternity - our life after death.
May we give thanks to God for the gift of life and continue to reach out prayerfully and lovingly to people near and far with the Good News of Jesus.
If you are unfortunate enough to get a bite...
- Lie down immediately and keep still.
- Have someone else call the ambulance and bandage the limb.
- Let the ambulance come to you.
If you have a troublesome reptile on your property...Keep clear. Call the Reptile Rescue on 0407 565 181 for advice.
For more information visit the Parks website.