Lifted

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (John 3:14-21)

“Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert.” Relevant to this lifting is Numbers (21:4-9): Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and whoever looks at it after being bitten will live.’ Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived (Numbers 21:4-9). So, we live eternally when Jesus was lifted on the cross – salvation.  

Physicians use this same symbol – a snake, or two, entwined on a pole.  Doctors strive to cure us of our “bites” and to take away our “serpents” so we will live.  Likewise, Jesus is our physician who takes away our sins and cures us.  

However, quite often we are not good patients.  We complain like the people who complained against God and Moses: “Why cannot you cure us?  You are letting us die in our ‘deserts’ of despair, suffering, and pain. We are disgusted with your wretched help!”  We can be intolerant and impatient with doctors, and Jesus.

We sometimes feel like we are mounted on poles – crucified like Jesus.  Fortunately, doctors are in the business of resurrection – bringing us back to life.  Thank God for those snakes on poles!  Thank you Jesus!

Deacon David Pierce