Why was Christ typified by a serpent?

I read a reference about the brazen serpent that moses lifted up. It seemed at first a little odd that the Serpent would be a symbol of Jesus, because it was also a symbol of Satan.

Here are some of my thoughts:

The original serpent was Lucifer, who caused--who brought about the fall.

I think, although I'm not sure, that Brass is symbolic of things telestial… things earthly. Specifically in the temples etc. of the old testament.

So Christ takes on the physical form that Lucifer took when he brought about the fall, made of earthly material. He identified himself with (as) the sinners, and was raised up. All who look to him can be saved. Lucifer's (serpent's) curse was that he would forever go on his belly in the dust. The type of Christ was a flying serpent, able to raise itself out of the dust.

In his life the Savior took the physical appearance of the sinners. He subjected himself to the fall, and wrapped himself in an earthly flesh. He was able to raise himself from the dust, was raised up among sinners as a symbol that can lead us back to salvation.

Temptations

In Jesus' weakest state he was the most tempted.

I have always imagined, and I know it has been depicted that satan physically appeared and conversed with Jesus. But maybe it was just internal. The kind of thoughts that we often have, but Jesus knew, and defined them as temptations from Satan, where we often consider them our own thoughts.

Maybe Jesus saw a stone that looked like a loaf of bread, and knew he could change it to bread and for a moment it was a temptation to him, "I have finished my fast, I could just make that stone some bread."

Maybe after seeing all kingdoms in an instant, he was a little overwhelmed at the prospect of atoning for each person in all the kingdoms, "Do I really have to suffer for all of them?" and for a moment he feared, or at least considered not fulfilling his mission. And in that way would have worshipped Satan, because he did his will instead of God's will. Loving satan more than god.

Perhaps from the top of the temple, he wanted some assurance, some proof that he was being supported, maybe he thought for a moment of asking for a sign. "If I am really meant for all of this, if I really do have control over the angels, they would catch me if I fell"

I doubt that I will ever have Lucifer standing in front of me with a wry smile, telling me to wield unrighteous power, do something selfish, or to expect more of God than I should. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't tempt me. I want to try characterizing any unchristlike thought I have as if it was an external suggestion, and see how that changes my perspective.

How would we recieve Abinadi

Written on mobile phone:

Abinadi's message to the people was compiled to about 12 or 13 verses. The people who heard the message cited 4 verses worth to Noah. It was the most controversial, the most outrageous, and entirely out of context.

Isn't that exactly what "we" have done with Barack Obama's Pastor? What was done with Wikileaks, with the FLDS church?

If nothing else, we live in a time when our society is intolerant enough that Abinadi could come, and we would run to Uncle Sam, or to the general public, to tell all the bad things that Abinadi said.

Abinadi could be accused of being unamerican, or even terroistic. He even could conceivably be condemned for it.

The infant savior as a type of Israel

I was re-reading the account of Luke 2. It is an important part of the scriptures, but so common I wondered what I could get out of it that was new. I did have a few thoughts that I hadn't considered before. (although I am certain someone smarter than me has)

In verse 7 it says that Mary "wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

First, swaddling clothes. Infants are born with more freedom than they can handle or find comfortable, so they were put in a type of bondage until they are able to govern themselves.

When Israel was freed from Egypt, they mismanaged their freedom, and felt uncomfortable with their freedom to the point of wanting at times to return to slavery. God gave them the tightly bound law of Moses, until they too were able to govern themselves.

Secondly the manger. Now this might be a bit of a stretch, but Jesus was laid in a vessel prepared for another. He was not in the home of his father, nor was he afforded the temporary lodging (the inn) that was expected.

The people of Israel were taken from the land of their fathers, although they arrived in the land of milk and honey, they were not allowed to stay, but rather made their home in the wilderness, not dissimilar to a large stable, yet God provided for them. Eventually they were given

great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
And houses full of all
good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not,
vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not;

Why was John "The Beloved"

Have you ever met that person, who almost instantly seems endeared to you? Somone who comes quickly to your mind, or at least to your heart, when you think of a close friend, although you barely know them. I believe that is a Christlike attribute of people.

I think that if we were to meet the Savior, we would feel that--an instant, intimate closeness to him. I think that in the gospel of John, he refers to himself as John the Beloved, because he knew Jesus personally. I think if we were to read the Gospel of Peter, he would refer to himself as Peter the Beloved, I think if you or I were to meet the savior in person, we would forever consider ourselves, at least in relationship to Christ, as The Beloved.

Elijah and the Widow

Written on mobile phone:



When Elijah came to the widow, it was in the middle of a famine. I'm sure that there were a lot of desperate people. Elijah's recommendation sounds unbelievable, but also like a scam to steal food from a gullible woman.


The widow would have had the protective, defensive part of her screaming at her to save herself and her son, hoping that maybe tomorrow things would get better and they might find food. she would have had to overcome all of that to recognize the spirit-the still, small voice telling her that what Elijah said was true.


That is why it is so important to know the spirit. It is good to feel the spirit when we are at church, when we study the scriptures, when we pray. but we have to learn also to hear the spirit in the grocery store, when we are driving or when a stranger asks us to take a risk for ourselves and our loved ones, lest we find ourselves alone with our last meal ready to "eat it and die"