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NASB | Exodus 20:4 ¶ "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Exodus 20:4 ¶ "You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. |
Bible Question: Refer to John 3:14-15 and Numbers 21:9 -- Moses simply mounted a bronze serpent on a pole. In John's verse, Jesus implied His glorification at His cruci-fixion and resurrection for the healing af all. Does He also imply, in the same manner as the bronze serpent, that His image be lifted up in commemoration of His glorification? |
Bible Answer: I believe we need to look at Numbers 21:8 "Then the Lord said to Moses..." What seems to us to be "simply" mounting a bronze serpent to a pole had the dramatic results because it was an act commanded by God. Jesus does not say that His image be lifted, but that HE be lifted (by our words and actions)so that whoever hears our words, looks upon our lives and believes, will be healed just as those who looked at the bronze surpent lifted on the pole were healed. Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. If Jesus had wanted an image of him to be physically lifted up, He would have left us an image. As it is, no one really knows what Jesus lookes like. Many times He is portrayed as a frail white Englishmen. I doubt if this would be accurate. In churches that are predominantly white, He is portrayed as white, in churches that are predominantly black, He portrayed as black. I have seen in Greek churches Him portrayed as Greek. It is all irrelavent considering God could incarnate as any race He desired since He made all races and is not a respecter of men. All we accomplish by making images of Jesus and placing them in public places is to make certain groups uncomfortable and take the focus away from where it needs to be, on the salvation provided by Jesus in the Gospel. |