John 3:14, a pivotal verse in Christian theology, states, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” This verse, rich in symbolism and Old Testament connections, offers profound insights into the mission of Jesus Christ and the nature of salvation. To fully grasp its significance, we need to delve into the historical context, explore the symbolism, and unpack the theological implications.
The Historical Context: Numbers and the Brazen Serpent
The reference to Moses lifting up the serpent directs us back to the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament. The Israelites, during their arduous journey through the wilderness, murmured against God and Moses. In response, God sent fiery serpents among them, and many people died from their venomous bites (Numbers 21:6). Recognizing their sin, the people cried out to Moses for help.
God instructed Moses to fashion a serpent out of bronze and set it on a pole. The divine command was clear: “And it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8). This event is crucial for understanding John 3:14. The brazen serpent wasn’t inherently magical, but it served as a point of focus, a visible symbol through which God’s healing power was manifested. Looking at the serpent in faith, acknowledging their sin and God’s provision, was the means of their physical healing.
Deciphering the Symbolism: Serpent and Son of Man
The original text of John 3:14 beautifully unpacks the symbolism inherent in the comparison between the brazen serpent and Jesus Christ. Several key parallels emerge:
Material: Brass and Humility
The serpent was made of brass, a common metal, not gold or silver. This seemingly ordinary material points to the humble nature of Jesus’s earthly existence. He was born into humble circumstances, lived among ordinary people, and ultimately died a criminal’s death. From a worldly perspective, brass is unremarkable, just as Jesus’s earthly appearance might have seemed unremarkable to some. However, brass also possesses a shine and durability. This can symbolize Christ’s inherent glory as the Son of God, a glory that shines even in his humanity, and his eternal nature as the everlasting Savior. The very ordinariness of the brass underscores that salvation comes not from outward grandeur but through faith in God’s provision, regardless of its presentation.
Form: Serpent’s Likeness and Sinless Flesh
The brazen serpent had the form of a serpent, resembling the very creatures that were inflicting pain and death. Similarly, Jesus came “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3). He took on human form, experiencing the limitations and vulnerabilities of humanity. Yet, crucially, like the brazen serpent which had the form but not the venom, Jesus was without sin. He was made to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), taking upon himself the curse of sin, even though he himself was perfectly righteous. This parallel highlights the substitutionary nature of Christ’s sacrifice. He became like us in our fallen state, so that we could become like him in his righteousness.
Number: One Serpent, One Savior
Only one brazen serpent was made and lifted up, even though many Israelites were bitten. This singular serpent symbolizes the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the one and only mediator between God and humanity. There is only “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5), and only through faith in Jesus Christ can salvation be found. Just as there was no other remedy for the Israelites’ snake bites, there is no other path to reconciliation with God except through Jesus Christ. He is the singular solution for the universal problem of sin.
Situation: Lifted Up in the Wilderness and on the Cross
Moses lifted the serpent on a pole in the wilderness, making it visible to all in the camp. John 3:14 states, “even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” This lifting up has multiple layers of meaning. It can refer to:
- Exaltation: Christ’s ascension into heaven and his glorification at the right hand of God.
- Proclamation: The preaching and exaltation of Christ in the ministry of the Word, making him visible to all spiritually.
- Crucifixion: Most directly, and in the immediate context of John 3:14, “lifted up” refers to Jesus’s crucifixion. Just as the serpent was lifted up physically, Christ was lifted up on the cross. This public display of suffering and sacrifice became the focal point for salvation.
The wilderness setting is also significant. It represents this world, a place of spiritual barrenness and danger. Just as the Israelites were in a physical wilderness, humanity is in a spiritual wilderness, plagued by sin and its consequences. Christ’s coming into the world, his suffering, and his death, all occurred “outside the camp,” echoing the wilderness experience and highlighting his separation from worldly comfort for the sake of humanity.
Effect: Healing and Salvation
Looking at the brazen serpent brought physical healing to the Israelites. Similarly, looking to Jesus Christ in faith brings spiritual healing and eternal life. The venom of the fiery serpents is analogous to the poison of sin, which leads to spiritual death and separation from God. Just as Moses could not cure the snake bites himself, human efforts and religious rituals cannot heal the wounds of sin. Salvation is found solely through looking to Christ crucified.
The original text emphasizes that even those severely bitten, far from the pole, or with weak eyesight could be healed by simply looking at the serpent. This illustrates the accessibility of salvation through Christ. No matter how “far off” someone feels from God, or how “weak” their faith may seem, looking to Jesus – believing in his sacrifice – brings healing and life. Salvation is offered to all, regardless of the severity of their sin or their past.
Jewish Interpretations and Deeper Meaning
The original text astutely points out that Jewish tradition recognized the symbolic nature of the brazen serpent. Philo and the Book of Wisdom saw it as a “sign of salvation.” The Targums, Aramaic paraphrases of the Hebrew Bible, further illuminate the understanding of the event. They suggest that the Israelites were not merely looking at the brass serpent itself, but directing their hearts towards God in heaven. Jonathan ben Uzziel’s Targum even speaks of directing the heart “to the name of the word of the Lord,” hinting at a pre-Christian understanding of God’s divine Word, which Christians identify with Jesus Christ.
These Jewish interpretations underscore that the physical act of looking at the serpent was a catalyst for faith in God’s healing power. It was not magic, but a divinely ordained symbol that required a response of faith and repentance. This aligns perfectly with the Christian understanding of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Looking to Christ is not merely an intellectual exercise but a turning of the heart, a reliance on God’s provision, and an acknowledgment of one’s need for healing and redemption.
Conclusion: Look and Live – John 3:14 and the Gospel
John 3:14 encapsulates the core message of the Gospel. Just as the Israelites in the wilderness were offered life by looking at the lifted-up serpent, so are we offered eternal life by looking to the lifted-up Son of Man, Jesus Christ. The necessity of Christ being “lifted up” – his crucifixion – was not accidental but divinely ordained. It was necessary to fulfill God’s plan of salvation, to answer the typological foreshadowing in the Old Testament, and to provide a clear object of faith for wounded sinners.
The verse is a call to action, a call to “look and live.” It is an invitation to turn away from our sin, to acknowledge our need for God’s healing, and to place our faith in Jesus Christ, the one who was lifted up for us. Understanding John 3:14 deepens our appreciation for the profound symbolism of the brazen serpent and the eternal significance of the Son of Man’s sacrifice on the cross. It is a timeless message of hope and salvation for all who will look and believe.
