The Scorpion

The penultimate of Spencer's "Christ In The Wilderness" pictures is this one- The Scorpion.

Scorpions are feared the world over, for their venomous sting. They are mentioned a few times in Scripture.

In Deuteronomy 8 the Israelites were reminded of their amazing deliverance from Egypt...

Be sure that you do not become proud and forget the Lord your God who rescued you from Egypt, where you were slaves. He led you through that vast and terrifying desert where there were poisonous snakes and scorpions. In that dry and waterless land he made water flow out of solid rock for you. In the desert he gave you manna to eat, food that your ancestors had never eaten. He sent hardships on you to test you, so that in the end he could bless you with good things. 

In Luke 11, Jesus assures his hearers that if they, bad as they are, care for their children - so how much more will their heavenly Father care...
Would any of you who are fathers give your son a snake when he asks for fish? Or would you give him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

And yet - in this picture, Jesus calmly holds the scorpion in his hand without fear. He knows that the creature could give him a fatal sting, but he is not afraid - he is in complete control of the situation. 

Today is 'Holy Saturday' - traditionally the day when Christians remember that Jesus was crucified, died, and was sealed in the tomb. Paul, in I Corinthians 15 writes about the sting of death...

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.