“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“
John 3:16 is a very familiar verse which says that we have to believe in Jesus Christ to receive eternal life.
But what should we believe about Jesus Christ ?
The previous 2 verses, John 3:14,15 clearly explains on what we should believe about him. ‘whoever believes that the Son of Man, Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross as the serpent was lifted up by Moses, shall have eternal life.‘
How can we compare Jesus Christ to the serpent, whom we always associate with evil, deceit and harmful poison???
In Mount Nebo, Jordan, where God showed Prophet Moses the Promised land, there is a symbolic sculpture of a brass snake on a cross.
I have always wondered how we could compare an idol like serpent to Jesus Christ ?…
To understand this we have to read Numbers 21:4-10.
The hardship of the journey made people murmur against the Lord and rebel against Moses. Then, they had to face serpents which bit them and many were dying. This calamity made people repent of what they had spoken and they came to Moses for help. When he prayed to God, God instructed him, “Make a brass serpent and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” Numbers 21:8. And people did so – lifted up the serpent that killed them and as they looked upon God for help, effect of poison was broken, nullified and it could not harm them any more and they were healed and they lived.
Verse 10 says, “and the children of Israel set forward….”
Like wise, when Jesus was lifted upon the cross, it was not just Jesus Christ hanging there, but it was Jesus Christ, who carried whatever, whatever that could harm us, numb us, destroy and kill us in our journey – all our pains, shame, hurts, sickness, inabilities, lacks, burdens, setbacks, disasters, negative thoughts, iniquities, rebellion, evil thoughts-deeds, sins. All of it, he took upon himself … all that destroys us, that brings our soul to death. He took all the curse upon himself.
When we believe in this, and transfer all that destroys us to Jesus on the cross and look to God for help, just like how the poison of the snake was nullified and could not hurt the Israelites any more, the blood of Jesus nullifies all the powers that destroys us. We are freed of its consequences and receive the energy, life and light needed for our journey.
There is an exchange happening at the cross !
‘beauty for ashes; comfort, joy for mourning; praise in place of heaviness, despair.’ Isaiah 61:3
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Mathew 11:28
Numbers 21:4 says, "and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way."
Do you have anything that is discouraging your soul ?
that is hindering you in your journey ?
Remember the exchange that happened at the Cross !
Lift up your burden to Jesus, and behold him to remove the hindrances and destructions and Receive the life and light needed for your journey.
and as in Numbers 21:10 "Set forward in your journey."
more references:
made him to be sin : 2 Corinthians 5:21
new creature : 2 corinthians 5:17
propotiation of our sins : 1 John 2:2
chastisement of our peace : Isaiah 53:5
the LIGHT of the morning 