Born Again (32)

John 3:14-15 (A)

Verse 13 says that the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, has come to us from heaven. Because of this, his testimony about spiritual things is authoritative and reliable, and this is true whether he is speaking about the earthly or the heavenly works of God. Then, verses 14 and 15 proceed to teach us about the heart of his mission, the central purpose for which he came to fulfill: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

The beginning of verse 14 refers to a time when "Moses lifted up the snake in the desert." This is a reference to Numbers 21:4-9. The passage reads as follows:

They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"

Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

The verse says that in like manner "the Son of Man must be lifted up." As is typical with John, the key term "lifted up" carries a double meaning in this Gospel. To illustrate, Jesus says in John 8:28, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." The NIV has added, "the one I claim to be," but he literally says, "then you will know that I am." This is a bold claim to deity that few Jews would miss. But he says that this would happen as he is "lifted up," that is, on the cross. Therefore, the term "lifted up" refers to both the physical lifting up of Jesus on the cross, and at the same time his exaltation on the cross.

But the point that one must not miss in John 3:14 is that Jesus must be crucified. He must be lifted up just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert. And just as those who looked upon the snake were healed, those who "look" upon the crucified Son of Man in faith will receive eternal life.

This aspect of Jesus' ministry is crucial in the preaching of the gospel. Paul writes to his converts, "Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified" (Galatians 3:1). This tells us about at least part of what this apostle aims to do as he preaches the gospel – he tries to portray the crucified Christ to his hearers. Otherwise, they would not be able to look upon the Son of Man as he was lifted up, so as to believe and have life in him.

(to be continued)