“Serpent in the Wilderness?”
This Bible story is an “aha” moment for an understanding of “salvation by grace." The famous conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus focuses on the simplicity of being "born again."
Nicodemus, a member of the Pharisees and a teacher of Israel, was unaware of a crucial requirement for entering the Kingdom of God. This religious leader, well-versed in the Torah, was directed by Jesus to a story with which he would have been very familiar--Numbers 21:4-9. This story (about "serpents") is an Old Testament “type and shadow” of what was to come.
Jesus alludes to the Numbers story in John 3:14-15. Many people know about John 3:16, the most famous verse in the Bible. Not so many know about John 3:14-15!
3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Jesus alludes to the Numbers story in John 3:14-15. Many people know about John 3:16, the most famous verse in the Bible. Not so many know about John 3:14-15! 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. In the related story in Numbers 21, Moses is leading the Israelites out of Egypt when they became disgruntled in the wilderness:
Numbers 21:4-9: Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” 6 So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
In this story of faith, the Israelites received extened life simply for believing the promise of life in the serpent on the pole. Jesus is telling Nicodemus that being born again comes simply by believing in Him (who will die by being "lifted up") for His promise of eternal life.
Just as the Israelites received life instantly when looking at the serpent on the pole. so does one who believes in Jesus’ promise for everlasting life receive an irrevocable, never ending, eternal life and he receives it instantly! Do you believe His promise? In the following verses from John 17:1-5, Jesus prays for Himself prior to His crucifixion:
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."
Next up: Believe, Eternal, Certainty
“Serpent in the Wilderness?”
This Bible story is an “aha” moment for an understanding of “salvation by grace." The famous conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus focuses on the simplicity of being "born again."
Nicodemus, a member of the Pharisees and a teacher of Israel, was unaware of a crucial requirement for entering the Kingdom of God. This religious leader, well-versed in the Torah, was directed by Jesus to a story with which he would have been very familiar--Numbers 21:4-9. This story (about "serpents") is an Old Testament “type and shadow” of what was to come.
