“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
John 3:14-16 (NAB)
Jesus spoke those words, comparing His death on a cross to the bronze serpent lifted up on a pole, from the Exodus story. We’ve all seen the image of the serpent wrapped around a pole, sometimes with wings. It originated three millenniums ago, from the exodus story and later it evolved into a universal medical symbol of healing. That serpent on a pole symbol has been sewn into medical patches, used in logos and appeared on many doctors’ lab coats.
Jesus referred to this exodus story about His own ancestors, who were delivered from slavery. They passed through the sea that miraculously parted for them, as they headed for a promised land. They were in the wilderness stage of their journey, which was a difficult time for them, but instead of being grateful to God, the people persistently complained. There was a scarcity of water, food and the basic comforts of life, so they turned against Moses for bringing them there.
When they were hungry, Moses interceded for them and God gave them manna from Heaven, but they grew tired of the bread from heaven, calling it, “wretched food.”
What an insult it was for God to hear people scorn His heavenly bread, but it wouldn’t be the first time.
God sent venomous snakes into their camps, to chastise and teach them a lesson. After being bitten by an influx of snakes, the people started to repent and change their attitude.
All the while, Moses constantly interceded for the people, asking the Lord to forgive and heal them from the deadly bites.
Finally, God told Moses to make a serpent out of bronze and mount it on a tall pole. Anyone who looked up at that bronze serpent on a pole, would be healed of their venomous snake bites.
It sounds like an odd solution to a problem, but in some mysterious way, it foreshadowed God’s plan of salvation for the entire world. The people looked up at a bronze serpent on the pole, and they were healed. About 1400 years later, Jesus was the living bread that God sent down from heaven. He was also scorned by His people, just like the first bread from heaven was. We look up to Jesus, who was lifted up on a cross for us, and we trust Him for healing and salvation.
The bronze serpent on a pole is a story that illustrates God’s patience and extravagant mercy towards us. It’s also an example of the power of intercessory prayer, since Moses never stopped interceding for the people. They didn’t deserve it and they could never earn it, but God is merciful to all who ask. It’s how the gift of grace works, as a gift, not earned.
God’s love and mercy once again brought healing and forgiveness to all who would trust in His sacrifice on the cross. Even the criminal, dying on the cross next to Jesus, looked over to Him, asking for mercy and Jesus brought him to heaven that day.
Whatever we are facing, God is still extending His mercy and healing to anyone who looks to Jesus and His cross of forgiveness and healing. The world is filled with serpents who bite and spread their poison, but the story from Exodus still points us to the cross, because God’s love, mercy and healing graces are the same yesterday, today and forever.
Lord, thank you for loving us more than we could ever imagine. We trust in you, Jesus, lifted up on a cross for us, so that we may receive mercy, healing and eternal life. Amen
