When the fiery serpents were sent by God among the Israelites in the wilderness to kill them because they complained constantly against him, Moses interceded for the people and God told him to raise up a brass serpent on a pole, and proclaim throughout the camp that whoever looked on the serpent would be healed. Those who believed and looked on the serpent by faith, were healed. So also, to heal us from sin, God has raised up Jesus Christ on the cross, and the gospel proclamation has gone forth, and those who look to Jesus in obedience to the gospel by faith will be saved.

Paul speaks of Jesus as “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col 2:14-15) That is, Jesus made an open show of the serpent, the devil, by triumphing over him in the cross. It was Jesus that was nailed to the cross, but it is the devil (the serpent) that was destroyed thereby.

Commentary by jk
Posted on: 4/19/2008 21:59 pm