Genesis 28
Genesis 28
This is a very well-known picture in God’s Word. I remember watching reruns of Tom and Jerry as a kid and seeing depictions of “stairways to heaven” when Jerry has hurt Tom so badly that it’s implied he’s actually been killed. There are famous works of art and even a piece of exercise equipment called “Jacob’s Ladder”.
What we may not realize when seeing references to Jacob’s ladder is that this is all a foreshadowing of Christ. In John 1:51, Jesus references this, “And he said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’”
You may be familiar with the Bridge Diagram. It is a method of sharing the Gospel, which I’ve used myself and love because of the visual representation of what God has made possible for us in Christ. After reading this passage, I am struck by how this is yet another way to share the Gospel and a clear representation of our place in relation to God. In the Bridge Diagram, we are standing at the edge of one cliff and God is on another with an uncrossable valley between us. We try to cross the valley (save ourselves and be in relationship with God) through things like doing good works, being baptized, being a part of a church, etc. but ultimately none of those are able to get us to God. With the visual of a ladder in mind, what if we told people we started in a pit?
Psalm 40:1-2 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”
Christ is the ladder that God uses to draw us up from the pit. Jesus is the means of access between God and man!
Reflect on the Gospel and Christ’s sacrifice today. How does the visual of a pit help you to process the gift of salvation? What are some reasons why you may prefer the Bridge Diagram in sharing the Gospel instead of this different visual aid, or vice versa?
By: Kaitlin White
This is a very well-known picture in God’s Word. I remember watching reruns of Tom and Jerry as a kid and seeing depictions of “stairways to heaven” when Jerry has hurt Tom so badly that it’s implied he’s actually been killed. There are famous works of art and even a piece of exercise equipment called “Jacob’s Ladder”.
What we may not realize when seeing references to Jacob’s ladder is that this is all a foreshadowing of Christ. In John 1:51, Jesus references this, “And he said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’”
You may be familiar with the Bridge Diagram. It is a method of sharing the Gospel, which I’ve used myself and love because of the visual representation of what God has made possible for us in Christ. After reading this passage, I am struck by how this is yet another way to share the Gospel and a clear representation of our place in relation to God. In the Bridge Diagram, we are standing at the edge of one cliff and God is on another with an uncrossable valley between us. We try to cross the valley (save ourselves and be in relationship with God) through things like doing good works, being baptized, being a part of a church, etc. but ultimately none of those are able to get us to God. With the visual of a ladder in mind, what if we told people we started in a pit?
Psalm 40:1-2 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”
Christ is the ladder that God uses to draw us up from the pit. Jesus is the means of access between God and man!
Reflect on the Gospel and Christ’s sacrifice today. How does the visual of a pit help you to process the gift of salvation? What are some reasons why you may prefer the Bridge Diagram in sharing the Gospel instead of this different visual aid, or vice versa?
By: Kaitlin White
1 Comment
Enjoyed your commentary today, Kaitlin. Actually, I gravitate to the pit analogy, because that's how I came to know Jesus as my Lord. I got to a bottom I realized to get out of would take a supernatural event. That's where God met me and delivered me. My gratitude knows no bounds.