Livin Lively

By Peggy Lively

            Have you ever noticed the medical symbol found on ambulances, in hospitals, or on medical organizations? The symbol is referred to as a caduceus, and it consists of a staff or rod with a snake curled around it. Do you have any idea why this is the symbol for medical healing?

            If you research this symbol, sources will tell you that it comes from Greek mythology and is known as the staff of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. Others identify it as the Caduceus of the Greek god Hermes, messenger of the gods, and inventor of magical incantations.

         I found this very interesting because I always thought it originated from the Bible. In Numbers 21, God’s people, the Israelites, rebelled against God and against Moses.  As a result, “the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.” (verse 6) The Israelites then came to Moses and confessed their sin, asking him to pray that the Lord would take the snakes away.

         Moses prayed for the people, and ^“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.’  So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.” (Numbers 21:8-9)

        This seems like a very strange way for God to choose to heal His people. Couldn’t He have just taken the snakes away and said, “Be healed”? Of course He could have. But maybe He had something (or Someone) else in mind when He gave these instructions to Moses.

        John 3:14-15 says,  “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.^” As the snake lifted up on the pole brought physical healing, Jesus lifted up on the cross brings spiritual healing. Those that believe in Him have been rescued from death and have been given life…eternal life. Verse 16 goes on to say, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I know that’s a familiar verse, but do you really believe it? “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11-12) “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17) 

            The next time you see a caduceus, remember the Son of Man that was lifted up for you. Thank Him for the Spiritual healing that He offers and the promise of eternal life with Him.