One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is when the snakes enter the camp of the Hebrew people. The bite of the snake results in death (Num 21:6-9). Before you get to that part of the story though one has to realize that the Hebrew people had been complaining, again! When the people saw what was happening, they repented and asked Moses to see if God would intervene. God instructed Moses to place a bronze serpent on a pole. God told Moses that anyone that looked upon the bronze serpent would not die from the bite of the venomous snakes.
Jesus recounts this story when he says just as the serpent was lifted up, the Son of Man must also be lifted up so that those who believe in him may have eternal life. The Rod of Asclepius is a rod entwined with one serpent compared to the caduceus which has 2 serpents on it. Asclepius was the Greek god associated with healing and medicine.
When I graduated from medical school, Christy and I lived paycheck to paycheck, barely. Lani was 3 months old at that time. Christy along with her parents and my mother pooled some money to purchase a graduation ring for me. On the blue stone surrounded by the engraving of the University of Kansas was the Rod of Asclepius. I never looked at the symbol as the Rod of Asclepius but as the symbol that Moses lifted up to save his people and later Jesus references, A symbol of healing, saving, even when surrounded by death in the form of venomous snakes, or a world gone crazy.
Sometimes, the kids I would see would ask about the ring and the emblem on it. The physicians had been instructed never to discuss religious matters with our patients or families, that was the job of the chaplains. Try telling that to a doctor caring for kids with cancer! That emblem was a chance for me to talk about faith and hope even in the darkest of times. I don’t know if I did a good job of explaining the story, but hope was talked about, for them and for me.
Dear God, give me the strength to look in the face of darkness and see your light shining through.
Give me the courage to look at the serpent raised up high as I am surrounded by fear, anger, despair and see that your promise was present yesterday, and is present today, and will be present tomorrow. My I see Christ in the simple things of life and know that you are never ceasing. May our faith be like the light coming from the City on a hill, for all to see.
This reflection was written by Kimo Stine.