Friday, May 30, 2008

the stone at the well...

Genesis 29:1- 3 "Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and lo, three flocks of sheep lying beside it; for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place upon the mouth of the well."

An interesting contrast? (my thought's not Luther's)

Jacob on a journey to the people in the east and saw flocks who had arrived for nourishment. Here the shepherds would roll away the stone, and water, that is to say nourish their flocks, and then the stone , the large one, was placed back upon the mouth of the well.

Christ on a journey from heaven to earth, from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, from Jerusalem to the heavenly Jerusalem, was born of Mary of whom shepherds sought. Christ arrived as the "bread of life" to nourish His flocks with his body and blood which conveys forgiveness and therefore eternal peace. The stone was rolled back, not by shepherds, but by the hand of God as Jesus rose from the dead. Nor is the stone in front of the well of life ever replaced, the tomb is open and from it Christ arises to offer forgiveness to all who would believe...

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