Lifted Up to Lift us Up!

Lifted

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:14,15)”

Reminder

‘Lifted up’ is a polite way of saying about crucifixion or death sentence. Lord Jesus was reminding Nicodemus and the Jews about the miraculous salvation from death by poisonous snakes by seeing the brass serpent lifted on a pole. (Numbers 21:4-9)

Serpent

Poisonous snakes indicate Satan, who is termed as Serpent. Lifted up brass serpent typified Lord Jesus crucified on the cross bearing the burden of sin and wrath of God. Moses could not have killed all the snakes in the wilderness. God devised a way to provide a solution or salvation for the Nation of Israel.

Faith

The serpent Moses made was not of gold or silver or copper, a meaner metal. Their only option was to trust God’s grace, love, power, and wisdom and look to the brass serpent in faith. The brass serpent had a form of a serpent but did not have poison. In the same way, the Son of God took the form of a human but was sinless, pure, and holy. Brass is strong and durable, signifying the strength, stamina, and power of Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus in his human incarnation was despised, bruised, and put to death.

Glory

‘Lifted up’ is considered a humiliation, and hanging on a tree is a curse from the world’s point of view, as well as according to Mosaic Law. Anyone who hangs on a tree is cursed. However, Christ saw that as exaltation and glorification. (Galatians 3:13; John 12:32)

Necessity

The word ‘must’ indicate the eternal necessity for Lord Jesus Christ to die, be buried, resurrected, and ascended. (Luke 24:26, 46; Matthew 26:54; Mark 8:31)

Do I look up to the cross as my Saviour?