Scripture

The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived (Numbers 21:8-9 NIV).

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him” (John 3:14-15 NIV).

Meditation

How does Jesus' willingness to bear the weight of the cross exemplify the depth of his love and sacrifice?

This image reminds us of the caduceus, which is a symbol for medicine that has a snake wrapped around a staff. How do you understand the connection between healing and the cross?

Reflect on Jesus' words in John 3:14-15 about belief leading to eternal life. How does belief in Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection transform our understanding of suffering and death? In what ways does faith in Jesus offer hope and assurance in the face of darkness?

Action

Take a moment to pray for those who offer healing spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc. As we stand here at CVS, a place people come seeking care, relief, and healing, let’s take a moment to pray for all who are hurting in ways we can and cannot see.

We pray for those who are sick, those managing chronic conditions, and those waiting for prescriptions or answers. We lift up the pharmacists, technicians, and healthcare workers who serve others day in and day out—often in unseen and demanding ways.

We also hold in prayer those who cannot afford the care they need—those who must choose between medicine and other basic necessities, those who go without treatment, and those who carry the weight of an unjust system.

May this place remind us of the deep human need for healing, and may we be people who carry compassion, presence, and care into a world that is longing to be made whole.