Joel M Bradshaw

 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life16“For God so loved the world,ⁱ that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.–John 3

Most people have heard about John 3:16, but when is the last time you pondered John 3:15? It’s the verse immediately before the most famous verse in the Bible. And it makes our point today perfectly. Jesus was referencing a scene from Israel’s history.

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 wilderness? 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, they lived. (Numbers 21:4-9)

The people were in an impossible situation and their only hope was turning to God for deliverance. And so God designed an answer where the afflicted humbled themselves before God and trusted in his chosen means of salvation for them.

That was Jesus’ point. He also would soon be lifted up. All who humble themselves and trust Jesus for salvation will be saved from the impossible eternal situation resulting from our sins. Salvation is God’s way. God once told Moses to make a bronze snake for the snakebitten. God also once sent his only begotten Son to die a death he didn’t earn in the place of people who had. To some people, both of these scenarios sound silly. But the ones in need humbly trust in the salvation God offers. And that salvation is only in and through Jesus. And now we understand what Jesus had on his mind with John 3:16.

Recognize your need for salvation, my friend. Humble yourself before God and trust in Jesus, God’s chosen means to save you from your impossible situation.–JMB