For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20
Yes, I’m about to talk about Jesus and spiders!
Spider Sacs
Spiders are one of those creatures that evoke different responses; even some grown men scream and cower at the sight of an eight-legged crawler. Others (you know who you are) are intrigued and pull out the magnifying glass to get a closer look.
The other day I was thinking about spiders; to be clear, I was not making friends with them. Specifically, I was musing about how they lay their eggs in a sac and what happens when that sac opens up.
It is the promise of the future
A quick science lesson: after laying her eggs, the mother spider carefully wraps them in thick silk. This protects the precious promise developing inside. When she is finished, there is a countless collection of new life, carefully covered in protective layers. For some species, the very process of laying and protecting the eggs will eventually cost the mother her own life (think Charlotte’s Web), and yet the promise inside the sac makes the sacrifice the only choice.
Jesus is the promise
I realize I made a quick transition from spiders to Jesus, but go with me on a journey.
Before the foundation of the world, Jesus was the plan, and He was the promise. It’s such a crazy idea. Jesus would come as a baby and grow into the fullness of a man; his very life a physical representation of the promise. Salvation was not accomplished by a faraway God hurling words across the universe. It required a downsizing of Jesus into the confines of a man. The promise was walking and living among humanity for a season.
The Promise was here
As the promise, Jesus brought life to a dying world. The gospels tell the stories of those who encountered Him. Everyone who heard Him teach with authority or experienced His presence was transformed or at least provoked in the case of the Pharisees. He didn’t just carry a message or perform miracles; Jesus represented the promise in the form of a man. He was the perfect reflection of the Father, walking alongside the disciples and demonstrating the reality of heaven.
The Son is the dazzling radiance of God’s splendor, the exact expression of God’s true nature—his mirror image! He holds the universe together and expands it by the mighty power of his spoken word. He accomplished for us the complete cleansing of sins, and then took his seat on the highest throne at the right hand of the majestic One. (Hebrews 1:3) (Colossians 1:15, John 14:9-10, John 12:45, John 1:18, John 10:30)
Jesus was Full of Promise
But here is the thing: Jesus wasn’t just the promise; He was full of promise. He wasn’t simply an influencer with empty words; Jesus carried the fullness of heaven everywhere He went. The vastness of all He contained was poured out onto everyone. Those who encountered Him felt the full weight of the promise (His presence) and received the benefit of what He carried.
We often need to be reminded of how good the Promise (Jesus) and the promise (the blessings) really are. Jesus gave us access to: forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28), reconciliation with God (Romans 5:1), eternal life (John 3:16), salvation (Luke 19:10), the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17), His presence (Hebrews 13:5), peace (Join 14:27), rest (Matthew 11:28-30), freedom (John 8:31-36), transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17), adoption into His family (Galatians 4:4-7), provision (Matthew 6:25-34), destiny and purpose (John 15:1-8), joy (John 15:11), resurrection life (John 14:19), and so much more!
Every time we bump into Jesus, we catch the overflow of all His life.
Back to the Spider Sac
If you have ever stepped on or bumped a spider sac by accident, you may have seen what I am about to describe.
Inside the tiny, carefully constructed web of silk are thousands of eggs, tiny spiders developing into fully functioning individual arachnids. When the sac opens, an innumerable army of life pours out. They spread out so fast and furiously that it is almost impossible to follow the flow or count them.
By now, I’m sure you are asking, “Why spider sacs and Jesus?”
The Promise is full of promise
Jesus is the promise. His life represents the ultimate grace and mercy of God, and His sacrifice paved the way for miraculous restoration of relationship. But He is also full of life and goodness that cannot be contained. When we bump into Jesus or actively pursue Him, what we discover is not small or limited. His life spreads into every area of our lives.
It is endless, like those little spiders spreading out in every direction, too many to count and too overwhelming to fully grasp. I am obviously not calling Jesus a spider sac, but the picture is still vivid. There is something about a container full of life that cannot be contained.
The next time you see a spider creating the perfect environment for the next generation, don’t panic. . . well, maybe a little. But think about what it represents. It is promise wrapped in a carefully curated silk cocoon, and it holds hope for the future.
I often wonder why God created so many unique creatures and critters. I’ve found that looking at things from a different perspective reveals treasure hidden in even the most unexpected places.
This whole analogy doesn’t make me love spiders, but it does make me appreciate how God reveals Himself in everyday things.
Jesus came to demonstrate what promise looks like, and He is full of everything we need. God has just what you need and even desire; don’t be surprised if you find those promises in out-of-the-ordinary places.