As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. – John 3:14
When you see a manger scene, what Bible story immediately comes to mind? For most Christians, they think of the story of Christmas and Jesus’ birth. The Jews in the Bible also had similar pictures that reminded them of stories from the Old Testament. Jesus used one of these pictures to teach a religious leader named Nicodemus in John chapter three.
During his secret visit with Jesus, Nicodemus spoke with Him about His teachings. Nicodemus was struggling to understand all that Jesus was saying, so Jesus chose to use the picture of Moses holding up a bronze serpent from Numbers 21 to help. In Ancient Israel, serpents represented sin, and bronze was a metal that represented judgment. The bronze serpent that Moses lifted up was a picture of Israel’s sin being judged, and ultimately forgiven, by God. This is something Nicodemus would have already understood. Jesus then explained to him that the bronze serpent was a preview of what was to come in Jesus. He knew that He was to be “lifted up” on the cross, in order to endure God’s ultimate judgment for the sins of the world.
Christmas time is so special because it is the start of God’s ultimate promise being fulfilled. Jesus knew what His fate was but chose to come to Earth to endure torture and death for the sake of all humanity. With His birth, Jesus brought a new hope, unlike anything before. May you find renewed hope in Him this Christmas season. May the same be true for the nation’s leaders.
Today’s Verse: John 3:14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Numbers 21:4-9
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient 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 we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And 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 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
