June 17, 2021
Dear friends,
Last night, in a Bible study on Zoom, we looked at the reference by Jesus to the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:8-9 while He was speaking with Nicodemus, as recorded in John 3. As a Pharisee, Nicodemus was well-acquainted with the Scriptures and must have listened intently as the Son of God spoke to him. When we think of serpents in the Bible, our mind goes right to the third chapter of Genesis, where we read “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” As Eve walked in the Garden of Eden, she was confronted by Satan, disguised as a serpent. In his Study Bible, Dr. David Jeremiah writes: “Satan attacked God’s character in three ways: (1) by creating doubt about God’s love – misquoting God’s instructions to Adam and Eve; (2) by denying the truth of God’s Word – telling Eve she would not surely die if she disregarded the Lord’s command; (3) by accusing God of jealousy – suggesting that God was worried Adam and Eve would become like Him if they ate from this tree.”
The Lord Jesus told Nicodemus “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). In his book “John: The Gospel of Belief,” the late Dr. Merrill C. Tenney notes: “The brazen serpent was prepared by the command of God. It symbolized God’s way of saving men who are under the condemnation of sin and who are suffering from its effects. It made curative power available on the basis of faith rather than of works. The sufferers did nothing but look at the serpent.” The serpent that reminded Jews of the sin of Adam and Eve now became God’s provision of healing and life. Dr. Tenney continues: “It was lifted up on a ‘standard.’ ‘Banner staff’ would be an acceptable translation. A banner staff was frequently formed like a cross, with the transverse pole holding the banner. The word here translated ‘lifted up’ (hypsoo) was used by John only of the passion of Christ (8:28; 12:32, 34), and the inference is clear that he intended an analogy between the brazen serpent and the cross. The serpent itself was a representation of God’s judgment on sin. The destiny of the individual was determined by his response to God’s invitation.”
I read recently of the injuries that Jim Caviezel suffered during the filming of “The Passion of the Christ.” You can read about them in this article: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/jim-caviezels-injuries-passion-christ/ which makes the whining of the wanderers in the wilderness (see Numbers 21:5) seem so ridiculous. As we face changing circumstances caused by the pandemic, may we remember how much God loves us and wants us to walk with Him and worship Him.
Scripture for the weekend: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
Thought for the weekend: “In the front of my Bible I have written the simple words that summarize what Paul and the other biblical writers say about the subject of temptation:
- Fight – Battle the temptation; this is not the time for passivity.
- Follow – Follow the example of Jesus.
- Flee – Do not remain in the presence of temptation.
- Fellowship – Isolation is the ideal environment for temptation. The community of believers is a safe harbor.
- Feed – The Word of God is the Christian’s daily bread.” – Dr. David Jeremiah (from his Study Bible)
By His grace,
Steve