John 3: 14 Commentary

1. The children of Israel complained against God and Moses
a. About having no water, no food and only worthless manna (Num 21:5)
2. So the Lord sent fiery serpents as judgment upon the people’s sin
a. So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died (Num 21:6)
3. The Lord’s solution was a bronze serpent upon a pole (Num 21:8-9)
a. And whoever was bitten
b. Could simply looked to it and live
4. They did NOT have to DO anything religious
a. But simply just look and live
5. Those who thought this was TOO simple or foolish
a. And choose NOT to look DIED
6. Just as that serpent was lifted up on a pole
a. So would Jesus be lifted up on a Cross
7. And all people have to do today
a. Is look to Jesus in faith
b. To forgive their sins
c. And they will be saved eternally
8. The very CURSE of sin upon all mankind
a. Found its CURE in Jesus
b. Who became our sin offering
9. The bronze serpent speaks of sin judged
a. Just as the Cross speaks of sin judged
10. Doctrinal Note:
a. Please do not confuse Jesus with being a serpent Himself
b. For Jesus did not become a ‘sinful or satanic being’
c. As the “Word of Faith” teachers tell us

By Tractorman (wrote 3584 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/10/2012 13:20 pm

God taught the Israelite’s the gospel message of Christ experientially. As Jesus teaches Nicodemus he reminds him of one experiential gospel lesson in Bible history to get him to understand.

By Roland G (wrote 1651 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 4/29/2012 15:53 pm

IN THIS VERSE JESUS HIMSELF INFORMS EVERYONE THAT HIS CRUCIFIXION AS THE MESSIAH HAD LONG BEEN FORESHADOWED HUNDRED OR THOUSAND OF YEARS BEFORE…

Contrary to some teachings that Jesus did not know His mission when He first came to earth, we see that many things that happened to Him during the New Testament times were foretold in the Old Testament and that includes His being lifted up as a BANNER for Salvation for the people!”

Numbers 21:8 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.”

Numbers 21:9 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.

Isaiah 11:10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.

John 8:28 So Jesus said, “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.

John 12:32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”

John 12:34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

John 18:32 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

By TIUCHE (wrote 3264 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/4/2012 16:35 pm

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.

By jk (wrote 36 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 4/19/2008 21:59 pm