The ladder into Heaven

Genesis 28:10-19 and John 1:43-51 (Click here and here for readings)

'And all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and your offspring".

Amazing words! Spoken to a man in a wilderness over 3,000 years ago and still being remembered and understood today. The words are in contrast to the personal blessing promised to Jacob - of a land and a family - and Jacob receives a vision alongside these personal promises to enable the greater promise to be understood.

It is put simply as this - from the line of Jacob (Israel) the way to Heaven will be opened. God reconfirms to Jacob, as he had to Abraham, that it is through his line that humanity will find its way to Heaven opened and the Heavenly accessible here on Earth.

Jesus, in the reading from John, claims this promise as fulfilled in Him. Right here at the beginning of John's Gospel, Jesus explains what He has come to do. He understands the expectations of the Israelite Nathanael (Bartholomew) who Jesus understands to be patriotic and seeking the liberation of his land through a worldly Messianic and military leader. But Jesus points him beyond these immediate earthly concerns to the greater promise that all families will be blessed in Him. Their eternal, heavenly future is being made known and available.

This eternal heavenly future is to be made available through Jesus Himself. The ladder we need to climb to Heaven is Jesus himself. He has opened up the way to Heaven for us and God's promise is fulfilled.

Our God of blessing, who cares for our needs in this world has always the greater eternal blessing in mind as He hears our prayers.