John 3:14

John 3:14

John 3:14 draws a parallel between Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness and the Son of Man being lifted up. In Numbers 21:4-9, Moses sets a bronze serpent on a pole to heal those bitten by snakes when they look at it in faith. Jesus uses this episode as a symbolic prefigurement of His own crucifixion, the moment when He will be “lifted up.” The phrase “lifted up” has a dual meaning: lifted up on the cross (crucifixion) and exalted in glory. The conversation with Nicodemus centers on belief, origin, and the pathway to eternal life; here, Jesus links belief to the risen, crucified, exalted Messiah. The historical context emphasizes fidelity to God’s redemptive pattern, where visible signs point to a greater spiritual reality. By invoking Moses, Jesus connects the people’s history with His own salvific mission, signaling that saving power comes through cruciform love embodied in the crucifixion.

The parallel establishes a typology: just as looking to the bronze serpent brought deliverance, so believing in the Son of Man will bring eternal life. Crucifixion is not a defeat but a redemptive victory—Jesus “lifted up” so that all who gaze in faith might be healed from sin’s bite. This verse foregrounds sovereign, gracious initiative and the necessity of faith in a person, not in abstract systems or works. It also frames the cross as the decisive act of love and judgment—God’s price for sin paid, so that trust in Jesus yields life. Thematically, it ties the Old Testament narrative to New Testament fulfillment and shows God’s redemptive plan as continuous and purposeful rather than accidental.

Today, consider where you “look” for healing or life. In moments of anxiety, guilt, or despair, point your gaze beyond circumstances to the crucified and risen Jesus. The cross remains the means by which God’s healing power enters our lives; faith is not passive but trust-filled obedience—following Jesus into a life shaped by love rather than fear. Practical steps: memorize a short reminder like “Look to Jesus lifted up,” keep a symbolic reminder of the cross, and reflect on how Jesus’ self-giving transforms relationships, work, and problems. When you face a difficult choice, ask, “What does it mean to look again to the Son of Man, trusting that He is the source of life?”

Cross-References: John 8:28; John 12:32-34; Numbers 21:4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Galatians 3:13