Noah has no idea how long this flood and its effects will
last on the earth so he is obliged to send forth the birds, first a raven then
a dove, to explore for him. The first
time the dove returns there is a tenderness to the scene as Noah reaches out
his hand and receives her back into the ark.
The olive branch has the symbolism of peace and it is therefore fitting
that it should be the first thing he sees after the deluge. Only at God's command does Noah leave the ark
with all the animals and make sacrifice of some who have lived through this
disastrous judgment. The Lord promises
never to destroy the earth again, neither all living flesh, because the problem
of sin is so endemic in our being. In
the new and restored creation there will be a change, there will be seasons to
the year. Who would think that this
seasonality would be a part of the fall?
They are annual reminders to us of death and new life.
There is the need of being born again, even in the covenant,
and even if you happen to be a teacher. Nicodemus
is completely confused by Jesus' words here.
We know what He means because we have the Spirit of God to tell us these
things. We live with a new truth about
everything when we believe in Jesus. That
belief is meant to change the way we think about everything. This life isn't all there is, it passes
away. The parables of the kingdom are
meant to show us what it means to be born again, fresh eyes to see with and a
transformed worldview. Noah carried with
him to the day he died the horrible memories of the flood and its
aftermath. He would never again think
about the world in the same way. We are
meant to have that same experience in being born by the Spirit, all else is
death to us and only Jesus is life.
Jesus is our great high priest, the true celebrant at the
Eucharistic feast. If communion is more
than simply sharing a bit of bread and a sip of wine then it is because of
Him. He offers us forgiveness,
reconciliation, restoration and wholeness when He offers us His body and
blood. As the priest I am no more than a
conduit for His blessing. He offers no
further sacrifice for sins, His offering of Himself on the cross was full,
perfect and sufficient for all sins for all times. While Noah offered clean birds, Jesus offered
His life as atonement for sin. In doing
so He shows us the way of God. We need
not fear for this life, there is something more and greater, eternal, that
beckons us.
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