From Curse to Rescue

Lesson #38

Today we will continue with the text from John 3:13 – 15. We will focus on the verse, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (verse 14) and see how this relates to Jesus. John Piper pointed out five observations about this verse that are worthwhile looking at. (See previous lesson.) In John 9 we find the story of Jesus healing a man who was born blind. Since this event occurred on the Sabbath, the people brought the man to the Pharisees. Questions were asked and conversation continued finally ending in the man being cast out of the synagogue. Hearing this, Jesus finds the man and said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man” (John 9:35)? The man replied, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him” (John 9:36)? Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you” (John 9:37). The Son of Man that is to be lifted up on the cross as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness is Jesus. Jesus is speaking of his coming crucifixion.

As the people looked at the bronze snake on the pole they were healed or rescued from the poison of their sin and the impending wrath of God. God is the one who saves by means of the snake. Like the snake, Jesus is lifted up and nailed to the cross. As people look to Jesus, God is the one who saves by means of Jesus. Jesus is the source of healing or rescue. But there remains one question. Moses lifted up the snake, but who lifted up Jesus? The answer is found in John 8:28 where Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he.” But who is you? According to John 8:13 it is the Pharisees.

How difficult it must have been for Nicodemus to even begin to comprehend the claim of Jesus being the Messiah and then associating him with the snake on the pole. By taking the place of the snake, Jesus is portraying himself as evil and a curse. Jesus on the cross is a picture of God’s curse on us as sinful people. In 2 Corinthians 5:2, Paul says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus takes upon himself our sin and our curse and in so doing in transfers his righteousness to us.

We will cover the last two points and John 3:15 in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, the plan of salvation is so unique and is so detailed in the Scriptures. It is so simple that a child can understand and find salvation, but yet is so easily rejected as foolishness by those who do not believe. Thank you for the sacrifice that was made to provide a way for a person guilty of sin to find freedom.