The Bronze Serpent

The Bronze Serpent

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.

John 3:14

In John 3, Jesus is talking to Nicodemus about salvation and how God is bringing it to the people. He is explaining that salvation for anyone is upon those who believe in Jesus. Furthermore, Christ is foreshadowing His death on behalf of all people. To illustrate, He refers to an account that Nicodemus would be very familiar with, the Bronze Serpent.

In Numbers 21, we see that the people of Israel are wandering in the wilderness. They are frustrated due to a lack of food and water. This lack causes them to complain about God. They go so far as to say that it would have been better for the Lord to leave them in Egypt.

God is greatly offended by their statement. He had done so much to bring them out of Egypt. The ten plagues made it to where the Israelites were enriched by the Egyptians when they left. God destroyed Pharoah’s entire army at the Red Sea, without a single Israelite having to raise their sword. The Lord constantly provided food and water for them, having Manna fall from the sky and water flow forth from rocks. Even with everything God had done, they were ungrateful to the Lord.

God shows His anger by sending fiery serpents into the camp. These serpents kill anyone they bite. Faced with God’s wrath and judgment, the Israelites call out for salvation. God instructs Moses to build a bronze serpent. Anyone who looks upon it would receive healing.

Jesus’ reference then shows how God is planning for the whole world to receive salvation. We see many parallels between our situation and the Israelites. God has done so much for us. As the Psalmist notes, God has put us atop creation, giving it to us as a gift. Yet, we have shown ingratitude by living rebelliously. Anytime we sin against the Lord, we declare that His blessings and His laws are not good enough for us, and we want more. Such rebellion deserves death.

Yet God has mercy on us, not wanting us to perish. So He sent His only begotten Son to be lifted upon the cross. If we believe in Him, we will avoid the judgment of death we deserve.

While the parallels are plain, there is one important distinction. The Bronze Serpent was inanimate. Nothing had to die for Moses to lift it up. Our sins required a greater offering. It was God’s Son lifted up. And it was not Him being seated on a throne or walking to the top of a mountain. They nailed Him to the cross, where He hung in agony before He died for our sins. Yet He did so willingly, because of His great love for us. Let us always remember the sacrifice that was needed so we could escape the serpent’s sting.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.

John 3:14