Jesus referred to an event in the living history of Israel as an illustration of what He would do and why He would do it when He was crucified.
(NASB) John 3:14-15 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”

The historical perspective:
The Hebrews had miraculously been freed from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.  They were traveling through the wilderness and they became impatient.  So impatient that they spoke against God and against their leader, Moses.  Whining and complaining about leaving Egypt to die in the wilderness – no food, no water and what food they had they loathed.  (See Numbers 21:4-5)

Scripture states that the LORD sent venomous snakes among them which bit the people and many died.  The people went to Moses in desperation.  They declared that they had sinned because they had spoken against God.  They asked that Moses intercede for them so the LORD would remove the snakes from their camp.  And Moses did so.

(NIV) Numbers 21:8-9 “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.’  9So 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 personal perspective:
The Hebrews had sinned against God by complaining and not trusting for His provisions and His leading them.  About what do you complain?
Venomous snakes bit the people and many died…poisonous sin does the same thing today.  When we are bitten with the poison of sin – we die unless we look to the Savior.

Discontent and bitterness does not trust the LORD for circumstances and interaction with people.

There was only one way for the people to live that had been bitten by those snakes: look at the bronze snake on a pole which had been lifted high.

Are you choosing to look to Jesus, Who died on the cross for your sins?
Are you living by faith in Him?

 

Belief in the Son of Man (the Lord Jesus Christ) will give you eternal life.

For what poisonous sin do you need an antidote today?