Jhn 3:14-15 (14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
How is the Son lifted up?
When reading I love to look at scripture in relationship to other scriptures. I love to see Gods interventions and glorious works unfold. I pleasure in looking at Old Testimony scripture through the eyes of His revelations in the New and bask in the analogies and examples He used to express His gospel. For the most part these thoughts will look closer at the events in Numbers than what is said in these two verses. Suggested reading Numbers 21:1-9
First the Israelites in Numbers were not healed by others bringing them to an understanding or by the works that men did in their behalf. For How can a man who cannot save himself and is in his own deathbed save someone else from dying? And this in itself would only attempt to glorify the man. Next they were not told to fight the serpents. It was not a battle against good and evil that we had to fight. It is a battle that without Christ you have already lost and with Christ you have already won. And if we were the one fighting, this itself would only attempt to glorify the man. The Israelites were not asked to make any offerings to the serpent. God does not ask for payment of any kind. Anything else would not be grace and would offer glory for the gift or giver. “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). They diffidently were not told to look to Moses. Put your faith in any man and they will eventually let you down. Put your trust in God and He shall never fail. To look to Moses would only take glory away from God. Finally they were not told to look at their own wounds. Some feel more preoccupied dwelling on themselves as martyrs or concerned with what gifts of the Spirit they do not process. Some wallow in their sins with out regards to Christ payment of them and create a great emotional repentance to easy their own pains. To be occupied with yourself or attempt to cast away your own burdens takes your eyes off of Christ.
What we do see here is Moses making a serpent, the likeness of the evil and cause of death. He lifted it up and you need only to look towards it and you would have lived. Jesus was made in the likeness of sin, that which will cause us all to die. He was lifted up on the cross and crucified for those sins. Those who only look to Him will have eternal life. And in this He will be lifted up and He alone will be glorified.
