Know Way

Gen 3: 15

By David Marube
Kisii, Kenya

Gen 3: 15 is probably the single most important verse in the Old Testament, maybe in the entire Bible, and is the most debated. Here is the verse.

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15 NAS)

This verse and the implications therein are the central SEED PLOT of the Bible. What you do with the word “SEED” in this verse will determine what you will do with the word seed in the remainder of the Bible. Failure to establish yourself upon the solid interpretation of this verse can only lead to confusion in the remainder of the Bible, and ultimately to blindness. It is therefore imperative we unlock the meaning of this verse.  To help us grasp its full meaning, here is the verse from a contemporary version:

God told the serpent:
“Because you’ve done this, you’re cursed,
cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals,
Cursed to slink on your belly
and eat dirt all your life.
I’m declaring war between you and the Woman,
between your offspring and hers.
He’ll wound your head,
you’ll wound his heel.”

The “seed” or “offspring” of the serpent is understood to be those who serve Satan’s purposes and stand in opposition to God.  The “seed” of the woman is understood to be the Christ, who represents all mankind in obeying God.

This passage is where we first see God passing sentence on sin.  God begins where the sin began – with the serpent.  In His sentence, God declares that the serpent will and those in his likeness will be destroyed.

War is proclaimed between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. It is the fruit of this enmity where there is a continual warfare between grace and corruption in the hearts of God’s people.

Heaven and hell can never be reconciled, nor light and darkness; no more than Satan and a sanctified soul can be united. There is a continual struggle between the wicked and the godly in this world.

After God passes judgement on the serpent, God makes a gracious promise to fallen man about one who will rescue mankind from the power of Satan.  At this point, early in the history of mankind was the dawn of the gospel day:  no sooner was the wound given, than the remedy was provided and revealed. This gracious revelation of a Rescuer is the Savior who came before he was ever asked for by the sinner.

Without God’s revelation of mercy, giving the hope of forgiveness, the convicted sinner would sink into despair, and be hardened. By faith in this promise, our first parents, and the patriarchs before the flood, were justified and saved. Notice is given concerning Christ.

1. Christ is coming in the flesh. It speaks great encouragement to sinners, that their Savior is the Seed of the woman, bone of our bone, Heb 2:11,14.

2. Christ’s sufferings and death; pointed at in Satan’s bruising his heel, that is, his human nature. And Christ’s sufferings are continued in the sufferings of the saints for his name. The devil tempts them, persecutes and slays them; and so bruises the heel of Christ, who is afflicted in their afflictions. But while the heel is bruised on earth, the Head is in heaven.

3. Christ’s victory over Satan . Christ baffled Satan’s temptations, rescued souls out of Satan’s hands. By Christ’s death, He delivered a fatal blow to the devil’s kingdom, a “wound to the head” of this serpent that cannot be healed.

This Christ who has brought an end to the reign of Satan, is Jesus. As this good news about Jesus gains ground and spreads from person-to-person around the world, Satan fails. Satan falls!

God gives you the free will to decide in whose likeness you will be shaped for eternity. Who will be declared as your father? God gives you and I a choice. Will you follow in the footsteps of Satan, the father of lies, or will you choose to follow Christ, the One who came to destroy the work of the devil? May your choice lead you to be an offspring of God.

The testimony of John the Baptist — John 1:34-36.
by David Marube, Kenya

By the time Jesus came to be baptized in the Jordan River, John the Baptist had created quite a stir with the people in Judea. John’s appearance was rugged and prophet–like. His preaching about the nearness of Kingdom of God was powerful and prophet-like.  So John drew many people from Jerusalem as well as the surrounding area to the place where he was baptizing.

Perhaps so many came because they expected the promised Messiah to gather His followers out in the desert (see Act 21:19).  With this in mind, the people began to speculate about whom John the Baptist really was. Was John the Messiah for whom they had long waited?

The excitement surrounding John became so great that Jewish leaders became concerned.  These leaders sent some priests and Levites from Jerusalem to find out more about John (John 1:19).  In both his preaching and his conversation, John the Baptist was straight forward. He left no doubt in people’s minds about his positions and beliefs.

John told the men from Jerusalem, “I am not the Christ” (1:20).

Furthermore, he declared that he was not Elijah nor the prophet spoken of by Moses (1:21, see Deuteronomy 18:15).  Rather, John quoted from the Old Testament book of Isaiah to identify himself as “a voice of one crying in the wilderness,” then he warned them, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.’” (1:23).  John was simply a messenger pointing people to the One who was coming after him.  He was a forerunner preparing the hearts and minds for the One whose sandal John was not worthy to unite.

John the Baptist was true to his word and true to his mission.

The next day when John saw Jesus coming, John declared “Behold the Lamb of God who takes a way the sin of the world!” (1:29). Although the baptism of Jesus is not recorded in this gospel, John alluded to the event when he disclosed that he had seen the Spirit of God descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Jesus (1:32).

John then openly confessed “… this is the Son of God” (1:34).

In the eyes of John the Baptizer, Jesus was not “a” son of God;  He was “the” Son of God… He was not “a” lamb of God; He was “the” Lamb of God.  The next day John again pointed his disciples to Jesus as he testified, “this is the Lamb of God,” “this is the Son of God.” Upon hearing this testimony, John’s disciples left him and followed Jesus.

Do you believe (as did John) that Jesus is the Son of God? When someone’s testimony that points you to the “Lamb of God,” will you be like John’s disciples and believe and follow Him?

The Gospel of John and the Word “believe”.
The word “believe” in its various forms is found almost one hundred times in the book of John.  Jesus told His listeners “unless you believe that I am He (the Christ), you will die in your sins” (8:24b).

Believing means more than “mental assent” or “agreement” or “acknowledgment.”  In John 1:12 John uses the concepts of believing and receiving interchangeably:

“But as many as received Him; to them He gave the right to become children of God,” even to those who believe in His name” (emphasis mine).

To believe in Jesus is to accept and receive Him without question as the Son of God. In 3:36, John uses the concept of believing and obeying interchangeably:

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life; but the wrath of God abides on Him…”

Faith always expresses itself in obedience.

Believing in Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, will not only effect changes in your life, but it will also affect your eternity! May this course on knowing Jesus point out the Christ to you so that you may believe, receive, and obey.

In Lesson 1 of Knowing Jesus, we look back through Scripture and visit the time when Jesus was about to come on the scene to begin His public ministry. It is a time when God wanted His people, the nation of Israel, to be prepared for the coming of the Messiah. Israel expected the Messiah to be a political leader sent by God to rescue them from political bondage.  Instead, God is sending a spiritual leader who will rescue them from spiritual bondage.

What is this spiritual bondage? It is the death-grip sin has on each of us.  Sin and its accompanying selfishness dictate our lives. Yet, since before the creation of the world, God has planned a way to remove the grip of sin and destroy death once-and-for-all.  This is why God sends John, a prophet, to proclaim a message to the people.  John tells the people that the “Lamb of God” who will take away the sins of the world is coming.

John is an evangelist – a spokesman for God -  who demands the people change the way they are living and become spiritually pure.  He demands people to have integrity and treat others accordingly. John demands honesty and he challenges the people to do what is right.  John’s message prepares the people for the Gospel teachings of Jesus that are soon to follow.

John’s zeal for righteousness was often harsh and direct. The interesting thing is that, inspite of his strong message,  crowds of people were coming out to him in the wilderness to hear his message.  Multitudes were persuaded to change and responded in repentance and baptism. Could it be that the people found John’s message of personal responsibility before God refreshing? His message was so different from the  ritualistic and tradition-bound religion they had been taught, they were persuaded to turn their hearts and lives back to God.

I believe many people today are like these crowds.  I believe people are longing to be called to a higher standard of spiritual living, and have a desire to be a part of something good, noble, and worth dying for, and worth living for.  What do you believe?  Is your heart prepared to know Jesus?

Just about the time I think I get it, I learn something new and realized I hadn’t “gotten it” before.  Have you ever had that happen?  One example for me comes right out of first verse mentioned in the course intro for Knowing.

“I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

I thought I understood this, but today I look around me and am reminded that I yet have more to grasp and apply. You see, today is house cleaning day in a house into which we have recently moved.  There are boxes still unpacked, and stuff that needs to be stuffed out of sight.

Is this having the full life? It’s full, but not in the way Jesus intended.

Apparently I thought so at one time as I purchased that one more thing that was going to satisfy my hunger and fill some need.  However, too many of those things I bought have long since been given away or gone in the trash.

So, I take a survey.  If I could choose to spend this day in any way that I believe Jesus would describe as “full,” I doubt it would be spent buying a book on how to organize my clutter in to neat little clutter-ettes.  No, it would be spent in the realization of the truly valuable gifts God has given me.

I believe a full life is a thankful life that is expressed to God and overflows others.

The greatest gift God has given me is eternal life through His Son.  When I remember my sins and failures, I know I am undeserving of this gift. I am overwhelmed with thankfulness and His love compels me.

My gratitude to God would overflow to my family.  I would spend the day with them, letting them know how important they are to me.  We would do simple things that strengthen our relationship.  We would talk. I would listen.

My thankfulness would overflow to those outside of my family.  I would bake cupcakes and ice them with bright yellow smiley faces and take them to folks in need of cheer. I would offer a word of encouragement and hope as I share someone’s heavy load.

But most of all, I would take time to read God’s word and thank Him for the the opportunities to serve someone else, and the grace He has lavished upon us all.

This is what comes from knowing Jesus – a life that is aware of things that are lasting, grateful for the love of God, and rich toward people.  May your life be full today because you are coming to know Jesus.