The Bronze Snake Gospel

Just before the most popular bible verse in bible John 3:16 Jesus said one of the most peculiar phrases.

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. John 3:14-15

I’m sorry what? what does a snake statute have to do with the Gospel?

we western thinkers read that and get a little confused. but Nicodemus whom Jesus was speaking to would have known exactly what he was talking about. I personally learned this snake gospel connection through the Bible Project, I’ve been listening to a very interesting albeit very deep philosophical podcast called “chaos dragon”. this connection was so cool that I knew I needed to share it with y’all.

so this story of Moses and the Bronze Snake is found in Numbers 21:4-9 but here is Theresa’s paraphrase:

the people of Israel were on a long walk, and as is typical they started complaining. “are we there yet?” ,”surely were gonna die out here”, “Im starving” , “I’m Thirsty”, ” we hate the snack “manna” we have been given”. basically your typical road trip with kids.

Eventualy Dad Aka God had enough. so he sent poisonous snakes and many people were bitten and died. the people cried out realizing their mistake in complaining, so they begged God to take the snakes away.

Moses was like um Lord, isn’t this a bit harsh? then the lord told him to make a bronze statue on a pole and whenever someone was bitten they would look at the bronze snake and be healed.

Interesting, so God took something that was used for death, and used it to bring Life! The people had to look at the thing that was afflicting them, to be healed of their affliction. they had to look upon death to be granted life.

Now lets look back at Jesus…

Jesus The Snake On the Pole

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, (John 3:14)

He was explaining to Nicodemus how being Born again, born of the spirit was gonna work. Jesus was Gonna become the snake on the pole. He was gonna face death to bring Life.

More than that though, because in Galatians 3:13 Paul quotes the old testament (deut.21:22-23) and states that “He (Jesus) took upon himself the curse for our wrong doing. for it is written in the scriptures,’cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’.”

The Israelites had to look upon the thing that was killing them to be healed.

We have to look at the Cross , believe He died for our sins to be given eternal life.

this new insight certainly brings more clarity to the most famous bible verses:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

May we never forget to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(Hebrews 12:3)