In John's Gospel Jesus, in leading us to the Promised Land, echoes what the Father did in leading the Israelites to their Promised Land.

Wednesday, 3/9/16

In the Gospel Jesus said, “The Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing.”

That is a key to understanding John’s Gospel. As we read through it, we see how John took note of all the things Jesus did echoing what the Father did through Moses in the Book of Exodus.

In Exodus, 40:1, Moses erected a dwelling tent for God; and in John, 1:14 we read that Jesus began his time with us by setting up his tent.

In Exodus 40:34 we read that when Moses had set up the meeting tent, it was covered with the cloud of God’s glory; and in John, 1:14 we read that when Jesus had pitched his tent with us, “we saw his glory, the glory of the Father’s only Son.”

Exodus, Chapter Forty tells how the cloud would lift from the dwelling to lead them. At night it was seen as a cloud of fire. Jesus echoed that in John, 8:12, “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.”

When the Israelites were thirsting in Exodus 17, Moses struck a rock, and water burst out. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles in John, 7:37, John called out, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me.”

Then, of course, Jesus echoed the rain of manna, saying, “I am the bread of life.”

All these twinnings of signs are part of the big story that while Moses led the people to the geographical promised land, Jesus leads us to the true Promised Land of heaven.