Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up

[Ahwatukee]

In Numbers 21:4-8 it is written that the Israelites grew impatient on the journey and spoke against God and against Moses saying: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food (Manna)!” In regards to this, the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.

Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD to take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

When Nicodemus came secretly by night speaking to Jesus, He said to Nicodemus:

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life."

I have always loved this comparison. The Israelites who were bitten by the poisonous snakes would have surely died. But as soon as they obeyed the word of the Lord and looked to the bronze serpent that was lifted up, the poison, though coursing through their veins, had no affect on them. Looking at the serpent was an act of faith. In the same way, though we have sin which leads to certain death, when we look to Jesus who was lifted up (crucified), our sin which is comparable to the poison, will in the end, have no affect on the believer. Unfortunately, for those who do not look to Jesus, the results of sin will take its deadly course.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

(The "serpent," i.e., "sin and Satan," was the reason for the Cross, and the pole was a Type of the Cross)

Anyone who purposely makes something other than the Cross of Christ the Object of his Faith, no matter who that person might be, can be concluded to be none other than an “enemy of the Cross of Christ.” All Salvation is found in the Cross; all Victory is found in the Cross; all Power is found in the Cross; all overcoming Glory is found in the Cross; all healing is found in the Cross; all Life is found in the Cross. Anything and everything that we receive from the Lord actually comes to us exclusively from Christ as the Source and the Cross as the means, with the Holy Spirit superintending all that is done.

JSM

 

[Ahwatukee]

(The "serpent," i.e., "sin and Satan," was the reason for the Cross, and the pole was a Type of the Cross)

Anyone who purposely makes something other than the Cross of Christ the Object of his Faith, no matter who that person might be, can be concluded to be none other than an “enemy of the Cross of Christ.” All Salvation is found in the Cross; all Victory is found in the Cross; all Power is found in the Cross; all overcoming Glory is found in the Cross; all healing is found in the Cross; all Life is found in the Cross. Anything and everything that we receive from the Lord actually comes to us exclusively from Christ as the Source and the Cross as the means, with the Holy Spirit superintending all that is done.

JSM

Hello JSM,

Why the rant? No one has rejected Christ lifted up on this post. In fact, you are the first and only person to respond to this post so far. It was/is a simple comparison of the bronze serpent being lifted neutralizing the effects of the poison, in comparison to those who look to Jesus who was lifted up and which neutralizes the effects of sin.

 

[JamOn]

Interesting take on the snake, though I’m wondering about the destruction of the bronze snake upon the pole because of idolatry of it.

 

[Nehemiah6]

But as soon as they obeyed the word of the Lord and looked to the bronze serpent that was lifted up, the poison, though coursing through their veins, had no affect on them. Looking at the serpent was an act of faith. In the same way, though we have sin which leads to certain death, when we look to Jesus who was lifted up (crucified), our sin which is comparable to the poison, will in the end, have no affect on the believer.

Yes, that Serpent of brass was a clear type of Christ. Thus we read in Hebrews that the Gospel was preached to Israel in the wilderness, and this would have been one of the ways.

 

[DB7]

I can appreciate certain people's concern about idolatry, ...but that risk comes with anything with original good intent. Whether it be the Latin Bible, Icons, KJV, arguably the ark of the covenant, the tabernacle, etc... it all comes down to one's own measure that they apply to it. Again, these all have good intent initially by design, but it's foolish and misguided people who corrupt and abuse their use. Those who don't understand their significance, subvert their purpose, just as the Pharisees who were over zealous for the law and Sabbath, completely overlooked and neglected the holy message behind it.

Your Ahwatukee, or rather Jesus', typology is quite significant and profound as it brings our attention to how God's hidden divine plan had it's allusions through the course of history, as Nehemiah6 also remarked. This is very reminiscent of how the author of Paul states in 1 Cor. 10:3-4 that the Israelites drank from the rock in the desert, and that rock was Christ, I do believe signifying faith again.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

Yes, that Serpent of brass was a clear type of Christ.

That is not true.

 

[DB7]

That is not true.

Yes, it is true MOTC, Christ himself made the allusion, were you unaware?
If someone else decides to have an injudicious regard for it, it does not detract, subvert or undermine God's intent of it.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Interesting take on the snake, though I’m wondering about the destruction of the bronze snake upon the pole because of idolatry of it.

Hi JamOn,

The comparison remains the same. Unfortunately, mankind always seems to turn many things into idol worship. That's not God's doing, man's.

 

[Nehemiah6]

That is not true.

It is true indeed.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14,15)

 

[JamOn]

I can appreciate certain people's concern about idolatry, ...but that risk comes with anything with original good intent. Whether it be the Latin Bible, Icons, KJV, arguably the ark of the covenant, the tabernacle, etc... it all comes down to one's own measure that they apply to it. Again, these all have good intent initially by design, but it's foolish and misguided people who corrupt and abuse their use. Those who don't understand their significance, subvert their purpose, just as the Pharisees who were over zealous for the law and Sabbath, completely overlooked and neglected the holy message behind it.

Your Ahwatukee, or rather Jesus', typology is quite significant and profound as it brings our attention to how God's hidden divine plan had it's allusions through the course of history, as Nehemiah6 also remarked. This is very reminiscent of how the author of Paul states in 1 Cor. 10:3-4 that the Israelites drank from the rock in the desert, and that rock was Christ, I do believe signifying faith again.

The reason I mentioned it because it’s part of the story of the bronze snake on the pole and I agree they did misuse it and started burning incense to it.

 

[JamOn]

Hi JamOn,

The comparison remains the same. Unfortunately, mankind always seems to turn many things into idol worship. That's not God's doing, man's.

Indeed it started as a good thing and ended up being misused, I don’t know but it could happen with today’s cross should anybody be wearing a cross, some churches seem to go over board with rose mary beads with a cross and others things.

 

[DB7]

The reason I mentioned it because it’s part of the story of the bronze snake on the pole and I agree they did misuse it and started burning incense to it.

I see, JamOn, is it that you were saying what a paradox, how something can have such a profound and glorious allusion to Christ, and yet, in another sense, go down in infamy at the same time? If so, i agree, i found so many curve-balls and un-intuitive relationships throughout the Bible that way. e.g. the lineage of Christ (some questionable characters or circumstances within there).

 

[JamOn]

I see, JamOn, is it that you were saying what a paradox, how something can have such a profound and glorious allusion to Christ, and yet, in another sense, go down in infamy at the same time? If so, i agree, i found so many curve-balls and un-intuitive relationships throughout the Bible that way. e.g. the lineage of Christ (some questionable characters or circumstances within there).

that a good question but that’s basically what happen, Hezekiah destroyed it

2 kings 18:4
He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

 

[DB7]

Indeed it started as a good thing and ended up being misused, I don’t know but it could happen with today’s cross should anybody be wearing a cross, some churches seem to go over board with rose mary beads with a cross and others things.

Without a doubt JamOn, from the Church's inception Paul was lamenting the abuse, corruption and heresies that infiltrated so quick and easily. I personally believe that the majority of Churches and adherents are misguided, or guilty of abuse and exploitation. (many are called, few are chosen)

 

[breno785au]

In Numbers 21:4-8 it is written that the Israelites grew impatient on the journey and spoke against God and against Moses saying: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food (Manna)!” In regards to this, the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.

Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD to take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

When Nicodemus came secretly by night speaking to Jesus, He said to Nicodemus:

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life."

I have always loved this comparison. The Israelites who were bitten by the poisonous snakes would have surely died. But as soon as they obeyed the word of the Lord and looked to the bronze serpent that was lifted up, the poison, though coursing through their veins, had no affect on them. Looking at the serpent was an act of faith. In the same way, though we have sin which leads to certain death, when we look to Jesus who was lifted up (crucified), our sin which is comparable to the poison, will in the end, have no affect on the believer. Unfortunately, for those who do not look to Jesus, the results of sin will take its deadly course.

Funnily enough, Nicodemus would have absolutely no idea what Jesus was talking about.. Somewhat consistent with the rest of their discussion lol

 

[DB7]

that a good question but that’s basically what happen, Hezekiah destroyed it

2 kings 18:4
He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

Yes, that's very true JamOn, and thank you for pointing that out, ....but sorry, ultimately what is your point, are you questioning the relationship, or efficacy of the typology with Christ?

 

[JamOn]

the lifting up as mentioned in the OP was symbolic to Jesus being nailed to the cross and the soldiers actually erecting the crucifix. what happen later in 2 kings 18 might be symbolic to the taken down of the lifeless body of Christ, wrapped in linen place in the tomb.

 

[DB7]

the lifting up as mentioned in the OP was symbolic to Jesus being nailed to the cross and the soldiers actually erecting the crucifix. what happen later in 2 kings 18 might be symbolic to the taken down of the lifeless body of Christ, wrapped in linen place in the tomb.

Possibly JamOn, but i personally am extremely hesitant to make correlations or allusions between disparate verses that are not verified by an inspired writer, simply because it's much too easy to do, and therefore, too easy to get it wrong. You could be right, all the same, but i personally wouldn't be dogmatic about it.

 

[JamOn]

Possibly JamOn, but i personally am extremely hesitant to make correlations or allusions between disparate verses that are not verified by an inspired writer, simply because it's much too easy to do, and therefore, too easy to get it wrong. You could be right, all the same, but i personally wouldn't be dogmatic about it.

I respect your opinion, everyone feels comfortable in their understanding, I’m no different so yea I understand.

I’ve been conversing in another thread with a person who doesn’t feel comfortable with merely believing in a creator so the range of comfortability in society is vast.