Faith & Reason Nexus

In John 3:14, Jesus makes a powerful connection between His own crucifixion and an event from the Old Testament: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” (John 3:14).

This reference points back to the story in Numbers 21:4-9, where the Israelites, in their journey through the wilderness, were afflicted by venomous serpents as a result of their sin and rebellion against God. In response, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it on a pole so that anyone who looked at it would be healed. The serpent on the pole served as a symbol of God’s provision for salvation in a time of judgment.

Jesus uses this image to foreshadow His own crucifixion. Just as the Israelites were saved from physical death by looking at the serpent, so too would all people be saved from eternal death by looking to Jesus lifted up on the cross. The “lifting up” of Christ refers to His crucifixion, where He would bear the sins of the world and provide salvation to all who believe in Him. This comparison highlights both the necessity of Jesus’ sacrificial death and the offer of spiritual healing and life through faith in Him.