The Son of Man Lifted Up - John 3:14

John the apostle shared how Jesus told Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven”, and in chapter three and verse fourteen of his book, John shared how Jesus told what will happen, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness” where we read:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

The verse reads, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, ...” John began with the words, “and as Moses” which means “and in proportion, to the degree and according to the way Moses whose name means drawing out and was the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion” “lifted up the serpent” or “raised and exalted the snake which was an emblem of cunning and wisdom” “in the wilderness” which means “within the solitary, lonely, desolate and uninhabited desert”. John shared how Jesus referred to the way “Moses” “raised up” a “snake” in the desert place when Israel was escaping Egypt. (See Numbers 21:7-9)

The verse continues, “... even so must the Son of man be lifted up:” John added the words, “even so must the Son of man” which means “in this manner and thus must the Son of man who is Jesus” “be lifted up” or “be raised up and exalted”. John shared how Jesus said “He, Himself” must be “raised up” like the “serpent in the wilderness” was “raised up” by “Moses”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus used the story of “Moses” raising up a “serpent in the wilderness” to foretell His own fate among people. In Numbers chapter twenty-one, the people of Israel had rebelled against God, and pending judgment was upon them. “Serpents or snakes” began to bite the people and those who were bitten died. Moses “raised up a snake” upon a pole and told the people if they would look upon that “serpent”, they would be saved. Those who would not look, died. In the same manner, Jesus was “raised up” upon a “cross”, and all who believe and trust in Him will be “saved” from eternal damnation for their sins. God's desires is for every person to look to Him and live, and those who are wise will yield to the “Salvation” offered by God through Jesus who was “lifted up” on their behalf.

Next time John shares how Jesus says this was done so, “whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".