And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: what whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14,15 KJV)
The episode of the bronze snake on a pole (Numbers 21), owes all its prominence to the interpretation given it by Jesus, in John chapter 3.
1. The Death principle. Jesus drew the parallel between the death from serpent-bite that faced those Israelites of old and the eternal death that all humanity faces as a result of our common rebellion against God's rule.
2. The Faith principle. The remedy for the people's sin, back in Moses' time, was a large bronze snake, displayed in the middle of the Israelite camp. To fasten one's gaze upon that snake was to be exercising obedient faith. Now Jesus equates the 'seeing' of the snake to believing in Himself, who - like the snake of old - had been 'lifted up' upon the Cross; suspended between heaven and earth - there to be rejected by both.
The Salvation principle. Just as life would be given to those who set their focused gaze upon the serpent of old, so today forgiveness and eternal life come to all who trust in Christ's atoning sacrifice.
Lifted up was He to die, runs the old hymn. Have you 'seen' Christ - yet?
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