After 38 years…

Originally posted on January 20, 2008 – by Andre Piet

This morning I was able to speak in the Eben Haëzer congregation in Rotterdam. I spoke about both the superficial and the deeper meaning of the phrase “you shall.” At the end of the address I also pointed to the paralyzed man in Bethesda (John 5), who after 38 years was healed by Jesus on a sabbath. “Rise! Pick up your mat and walk…,” he was told. I pointed out the symbolic meaning of the mat: it is a representation of rest. Where a person receives new life (> “rise” > resurrection), it is fundamental for one’s walk to first and foremost pick up the mat. So that the entire walk would be characterized by the rest of all that God promises.

There is something I unfortunately could not point out this morning anymore (I was already going beyond the time allotted to me…). It concerns the deeper meaning of the 38 years. This period serves in Scripture as a model for the time that the people of Israel had to wander additionally in the wilderness (Deut. 2:14). Under the leadership of Moses, a type of the law. After the 38 years, however, Moses died and the people entered the promised land under the leadership of Joshua. Joshua already in his very name refers directly to Jesus. In the Greek “New Testament” there is in fact no difference at all between the two names (see e.g. Heb. 4:8). The idea is: after 38 years Moses makes way for Joshua (=Jesus). John 1:17 says:

“for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus (= Joshua!) Christ”.

After 38 years the crossing of the Jordan takes place (a picture of death and resurrection) and the promised (land) is obtained. Completely parallel to this we find in John 5 a man who had been ill for 38 years. Unable to bring himself to the living water. No problem, for the living water (Joshua/Jesus) came to him and he is healed. Totally and without rehabilitation…

So, then I have still been able to report this today after all…

Delen: