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Spiritual Health

Surviving Snakebite
Gerrit Scott Dawson

Jesus’ blood, his life, contains the anti-venom for sin.

“No problem” is easy to say when somebody bumps you in the hall and says, “Sorry.” It’s not so easy when your friend swears she won’t say a word and an hour later everybody knows your secret and you burn with embarrassment. How do you say “No problem” when a relationship breaks up and hard words are spoken, when the person you thought you loved throws daggers of criticism at your most tender places? Worse: If your dad walks out on your mom and everything that seems stable in your world falls apart, how can you forgive?
     Forgiveness for the little stuff is easy. But what happens when the hurt is deep? Somehow, all the hurt and anger has to be taken away so that you can forgive.

Snakebite
Years ago in Miami, Bill Haast handled cobras, rattlers, and coral snakes as part of a tourist attraction. Now he raises snakes and sells their venom for research. He’s been bitten more than 160 times, and each time he’s recovered. Haast’s blood has developed an anti-venom that neutralizes the snakes’ poison. His blood cleanses itself. In 1969, Haast donated blood for a transfusion that saved the life of a man bitten by a poisonous snake. Haast’s blood mingled with the victim’s blood, and the anti-venom went to work.

Blood of Christ
When we get hurt, we feel poisoned by pain and anger. The venom threatens to ruin us. Jesus’ blood, his life, contains the anti-venom for sin.
     Somehow, when sin touched Jesus, he was not contaminated. When wicked people spat in his face and rammed a crown of thorns on his head, he took it silently. When the soldiers nailed him to the cross and when his back, raw from the lash of the whip, met the rough, splintered wood, he prayed, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34, NRSV). Jesus took the rage and sin of the world onto himself. He sucked the poison of human sin into himself; and it killed him.
     On Easter, he rose, a new man, restored and whole. His new risen life is the anti-venom for all the hurt in the world.
     We need the blood of Jesus when we are wounded. We need his life that can suck up even the worst violence and turn it into forgiveness. So we go to Jesus in faith and ask him to take our hurts to the cross, to take away our sin and guilt. Then we pray for a transfusion, the gift of his forgiveness, healing, and powerful new life.
     Jesus takes our hurt and makes it his own so that we do not bear it alone. He takes away our guilt and gives us forgiveness. The venom gets sucked into Jesus; and the strong, rich lifeblood of the risen Christ is poured into us.

DIG DEEPER
Remember a time when you have been hurt by another person. Visualize the poison of hurt and anger coursing through you. Now imagine that the hurt or the hateful words were done or said to Jesus. See him taking those blows on the cross. They are enough to kill him. Then go to the tomb; watch as Jesus is raised on the third day. Jesus gives you the cup in communion and says, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28, NRSV). Drink from the cup, and invite Christ’s cleansing, forgiving life to fill you.

Gerrit Scott Dawson is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Lenoir, North Carolina.

-- from Devo'Zine (January/February 2003). Copyright ©2002 by Upper Room Ministries. All rights reserved.

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