This random video popped up on my Youtube. I almost dismissed it due to it's length but I'm happy I clicked it and the time flew by.

The youtuber, Watkin, presents two views of the story of Jacobs Ladder (Gen 28). He starts off with Petersons interpretation which I found very compelling. It is a view that we must aim upward toward the divine and work our way up the ladder by carrying our cross. He then presents Tim Keller's interpretation that the ladder wasn't something for us to ascend but rather, a mode for God to come down and lift us during our brokenness.

I was going back and forth as to which view I liked more until he presented Kellers haymaker. Jacobs ladder was described in Genesis:

"12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." -Genesis 28:12

Followed that up with John 1:51:

51 And He *said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Keller states, "Our God is not a God who stands at the top of the ladder but rather sends His son down to be the ladder". Time stamped below if you want hear it in Kellers' voice:




I don't agree with how Watkin constricts Petersons' view near the end of the video and I don't think to two views are mutually exclusive as he suggests. As the common meme states, "why not both?". Grace is without question a requirement. However, unless you believe in predestination, we have to reach for the ladder so it takes some effort on our part, some sacrifice on our part.

Jesus offered all to walk with him but there are many scriptural examples of where a sacrifice was required. The rich man failed to give up his riches and walked away in despair. Simon, Andrew, James, and John sacrificed their boats and nets to walk with Jesus. As such, we need to offer to walk with Jesus (Grace) but we have to be willing to endure the sacrifice (climb the ladder) to do so.