Hark, the Herald Angel's Staff

A Herald is a public messenger, and the ancient caduceus was actually the staff of the divine herald, or public messenger. It is thought to have developed from a shepherd's crook, in the form of a forked olive branch, which for this purpose has been adorned with first two fillets of Lamb's wool, then with white ribbons and finally with two snakes intertwined. Are we seeing any symbolism yet? Wow! So though we often think of healing when we think of this staff, it is actually the staff of proclamation or announcing that is carried by a divine messenger! And it somehow came to include healing. A public proclamation that is related to a divine messenger and healing? hmmmmmm.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent [Saraph (sing.); Saraphim (pl.)], and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. (Num 21:8-9)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (Joh 3:14-15)

"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED; (Jesus in Luk 4:18, quoting Isaiah 61:1)

Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Glory to the Christ Child that is going to save us from our sin! Shout it from the rooftops. There is healing through the shed blood of the Christ! Healing for the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the blind, the oppressed. Freedom from not only the penalty, but from the power of sin.

Join your local chapter of Heralds and proclaim the good news!! Call on people everywhere to repent, and be immersed, calling on the name of the Lord Jesus that they too might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit this Christmas season. (Acts 2:38).

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.