Easter Sunday 2026. From the bronze serpent of Numbers 21 — the Old Testament picture John 3 hangs the gospel on — Dr. Nana Boadum preaches life as a journey of faith. Israel left the grief of Mount Hor, detoured around the Red Sea, was refused passage by their own relatives in Edom, and grew discouraged into sin. The Easter answer: as Moses lifted the serpent, so the Son of Man was lifted up — look to Jesus and live, look to Jesus and win.
The seven movements
- The serpent and the Son. "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" — the resurrection message hidden in the wilderness (John 3:13-15; Numbers 21:8-9).
- The road that discourages. From Mount Hor (grief — Aaron died there), by way of the Red Sea (a detour that felt like going backward), around Edom (relatives who refused to help): the soul of the people became discouraged, and discouragement opened the door to complaint and sin (Numbers 20:22-29; 21:4-6).
- Disappointment vs. discouragement. Disappointments arrive outside your choosing; discouragement is in your hands. Don't make a date with discouragement or take up residence at its address — choose joy (Numbers 21:4-5).
- Run the race God's way. Hebrews 12: lay aside every weight (the things that slow you), lay aside the sin that so easily ensnares (the weaknesses that trap you), and run with endurance the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
- Run to win. The race of life is the good fight of faith: run with intentionality, not beating the air; with certainty, not resignation; with discipline, lest you be disqualified. Get up and do it again — when you stop, then you've failed (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:7).
- Consider Jesus. He endured hostility not from relatives but from His own creation — and "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame." Joy was His compass through pain; make it yours, lest you become weary and discouraged in your soul (Hebrews 12:2-3).
- Look and live. The bitten Israelites were healed by one act of faith — looking. So with the risen Christ: believe in your heart, confess with your mouth, and the finished work is yours. Move your address from Bitterness Lane to Joy Avenue: beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning (Romans 10:9-10; Isaiah 61:1-3).
Walk away with this
Whatever Mount Hor you've left or Edom has shut its door, don't settle at discouragement's address. Drop the weight, release the ensnaring sin, run with purpose — and keep your eyes on the risen Jesus, because looking to Him is how you live, and how you win.