{"id":5398,"date":"2018-06-01T05:00:55","date_gmt":"2018-06-01T09:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=5398"},"modified":"2026-01-15T20:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T01:58:11","slug":"john-3-pt-2-snake-on-the-pole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=5398","title":{"rendered":"John 3, Pt 2. – Snake on the Pole"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series Born Again<\/a><\/div>

God made promises to Abraham (Gen.12:1-3, 17:7<\/a>) & his’ Descendant<\/strong>\/The Seed<\/strong>‘ (Christ, the Messiah) but the Jews stumbled on this (Isaiah 28:16<\/a><\/span>, Rom. 9:33<\/a>), they misinterpreted it & took it as it was just for all Abraham’s descendants in the flesh, Israelites<\/strong>. Sadly they still believe that today! Most of them believe in salvation because of their race. But we’ll talk about this on a next post ‘Who is Abraham’s Seed<\/a>‘.<\/p>\n

All through<\/span> out John chapter 3 we notice so many times that salvation if for whosoever<\/strong><\/span> believes in Jesus Christ<\/strong>. The King James translates the Greek word ‘pisteu\u014dn<\/span>‘ in ‘beliveth<\/strong>‘ to indicate the verb is in present progressive ‘believing<\/strong>‘, the action still continues.<\/p>\n

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12\u00a0<\/sup>If I have told you earthly things, and ye<\/strong> (You all) believe not,<\/strong> how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly<\/strong> things<\/span>? <\/span> 13<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0<\/sup>And no man hath ascended up to heaven<\/strong>, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. <\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>And as Moses<\/span> lifted up<\/strong> the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up<\/strong>: <\/span><\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>that whosoever<\/span><\/strong> believeth<\/strong> in him<\/strong><\/span> should not perish, but have eternal life<\/strong>.<\/span> John 3: 12-15<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Verse 13. -Our Lord most probably spoke to correct a false notion among the Jews [that is still taught today by Talmud (=previous oral law) &\u00a0 Kabbalah], that said Moses had ascended to heaven, in order to get the law, a misinterpretation of Deut. 30:12<\/a> &\u00a0\u00a0Ex.24:18<\/a>. See also Prov.30:4<\/a>. (Judaism teaches Moses also ascended after his death, Babylonian Talmud Yoma<\/em> 4a). But the bible says: God buried Moses in an unmarked grave (Deut. 34:6).\u00a0\u00a0 No man went to heaven on their own except God took them (e.g. Enoch & Elijah). Only Christ can teach us heavenly (spiritual) things & with authority because He came from heaven & He is the Son of God.<\/p>\n

The Brazen Serpent (watercolor circa 1896\u20131902 by James Tissot) Wikipedia<\/p><\/div>\n

Vs. 14. -All the Jews knew well about the serpent that Moses made, event recorded in book of Numbers<\/a>. Jesus uses this illustration to signify He would die on a cross for our sins,\u00a0<\/span> John 12:33<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“5 The people spoke against God<\/strong> and against Moses, \u201cWhy have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness<\/span>? For there is no bread or water<\/span>,<\/strong> and our soul loathes this worthless<\/span> manna.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

6\u00a0<\/sup>So the Lord<\/span> sent poisonous <\/strong>(H8314<\/a>) serpents<\/strong> among the people, and they bit the people, and many children of Israel died. <\/strong><\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>So the people came to Moses and said, \u201cWe have sinned<\/span><\/strong> for we have spoken against the Lord<\/span> and against you. Pray to the Lord<\/span>,<\/span> and He will take away the serpents<\/span> from us<\/strong><\/em>.\u201d And Moses prayed for the people<\/strong>. <\/span>8\u00a0<\/sup>The Lord<\/span> said to Moses, \u201cMake a poisonous serpent, <\/span>and put it on a pole<\/span> (H5251<\/a>=standard, banner), and it will be, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, will live<\/strong>;<\/span>\u201d\u00a0Numbers 21:4-9<\/a> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We all know Jesus is the bread<\/span> from heaven, the real manna (John 6:41-51<\/a>) He is the Rock (1 Cor.4:10<\/a>), source of the water <\/span>which represents the Word of God (Him) & the work of the Holy Spirit<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The descendants of Esau (Edom) had denied Israel permission to cross their land on their way to Canaan. Then Moses & the Israelites had to make a longer journey surrounding the land of Edom (Num.21:4<\/a>). The discouraged Israelites started\u00a0 to grumble & complain about God’s provision<\/strong>, showing their lack of faith (even after crossing the Red Sea).
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Because of their sin, just like their poisonous words,<\/strong> they encountered poisonous snakes<\/strong>, which represented their<\/strong> sin &<\/strong> its consequence, death<\/strong><\/span>.<\/span> ‘ the wages of sin is death<\/span>‘<\/strong> (Rom.6:23). People understood, repented & confessed<\/span> their sin vs.7.<\/strong> Moses interceded<\/strong><\/span><\/span> for them & made a replica of the poisonous snake out of bronze<\/span> & put it on a pole. Everyone who was bitten or dying would look at the bronze<\/span> serpent & live.
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In the same way, everyone dying from the consequences of sin, <\/strong>will look in faith<\/span> (John 3:15) at Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross<\/span> (our mediator & intercessor<\/strong>), and live.\u00a0To be saved one must begin by acknowledging our sin & our need of a Savior. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c. .I am from above<\/span><\/strong>: ye are of this world; I am<\/strong> not of this world<\/span>. <\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if<\/span><\/strong> ye believe not<\/strong> that I am<\/span><\/strong><\/span> [he]<\/i>, ye shall die in your sins<\/span>. . .<\/span>When you lift<\/b> up<\/b> the Son of Man<\/strong>, then you will know that I am<\/span> <\/strong>[<\/em>He],<\/i> and that<\/i> I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things”. . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span> “Jesus said to them, \u201cTruly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM<\/span><\/strong>.\u201d <\/span> 59\u00a0<\/sup>Then they took up stones to throw at Him”. Jn 8:23-28, 58<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Note:<\/span> The personal pronoun ‘he’ is not in the original Greek text. Jesus is saying I AM!<\/strong><\/span> God’s name given to Moises Ex.3:13-14<\/a>!!! They didn’t grab stones when Jesus called them sons of the devil vs.44 but decided that He was blaspheming when He said I AM<\/strong> vs. 58) and that He should be stoned (according to their law).
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“Now judgment is upon this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out<\/strong>.<\/span> <\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>And if <\/strong>I be lifted up <\/span>from the earth, I will draw all men to Myself.\u00a033\u00a0<\/sup><\/span><\/strong>He said this to signify<\/strong><\/span> by what kind of death<\/span> He would die.<\/span>\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0John 12:31-33<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jews that had only the Old Testament (like Nicodemus) knew God judged sin at the bronze<\/span> altar<\/strong>. In the outer court of the tabernacle, the altar & all its utensils were made of bronze,<\/span> on which ( only <\/span><\/strong>clean<\/strong><\/a> ) animals were sacrificed to atone for sin<\/strong><\/span>. (Ex.27 <\/a>& 38).\u00a0 <\/span>The serpent from Genesis to Revelation, represents Satan & his works, sin<\/strong><\/span>, death, it has never represented our Holy God! The snake was an unclean animal, never<\/strong> used as an atonement<\/strong><\/a> for sin. Jesus is not the snake<\/span> but the sin offering<\/strong>, the unblemished Lamb of God!\u00a0(Jn 1:29).\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Our sins<\/strong> & the powers of evil<\/strong> (the snake<\/strong>) are wiped out &\u00a0defeated at the cross!!<\/span> (<\/span><\/strong>Gen.3:15, Col.2:15, Heb.2:14-15<\/a>,\u00a0John 12:31<\/strong><\/a>, 1 Jn.3:8, Jn 14:30<\/a>, etc.)<\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/strong>Repent <\/strong><\/span>therefore and be converted<\/span>, that your sins<\/strong> may be blotted out<\/strong>, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, <\/span>” <\/strong>Acts 3:19<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

– <\/strong>We need to repent <\/strong>from our sins and go to God<\/strong>. He sent His son that whosoever believes<\/strong> in Him<\/strong> should not perish, but have eternal life.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

– <\/strong>We need to know who is Jesus<\/strong>. He isn’t just a good teacher or a great man. He is God! <\/span><\/strong>He is the Messiah, the promised Seed!<\/p>\n

You may have heard some people teaching that Jesus is the snake<\/strong> at the pole,<\/strong> others say, that He became a sinner<\/strong> (took on a sin nature) at the cross! <\/span>Benny Hinn one proponent of that doctrine, stated: “Hear this! He who is the nature of God became the nature of Satan<\/strong><\/span> when he became sin<\/span>!<\/em>\u201d (Benny Hinn, Trinity Broadcasting Network, December 1, 1990). His friend Kenneth Copeland have same teachings. He said: \u201cThe righteousness of God was made to be sin. <\/em>He accepted the sin nature of Satan<\/span> in His own spirit<\/span><\/em>.” <\/strong>& then quotes Isaiah 53:10-11.\u00a0 (Kenneth Copeland, \u201cWhat Happened from the Cross to the Throne<\/em>,\u201d 1990, audiotape #02-0017, side 2) .<\/p>\n

But notice the\u00a0 Servant (Jesus) in Isaiah 53:11<\/strong><\/a> is called the \u201cRighteous\u201d <\/strong>even in the context of bearing the sin<\/span><\/strong> of others. He bore our sins but sin didn’t come part of Him. “knowing this, that our old man<\/strong> is crucified with him<\/span><\/span>, that the body of sin might be destroyed<\/span>, that henceforth we should not serve sin<\/em>. <\/span>” Rom.6:6<\/a><\/p>\n

-Some may ask then, how can we reconcile this with what it says in 2 Corinthians 5:21<\/a> ?\u00a0 “For he hath made him to be sin <\/span><\/em>(G266\u00a0<\/a><\/span>hamartia) for us<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, who knew no sin<\/span><\/strong>; that we might be made the righteousness<\/strong><\/span> of God IN<\/span> Him.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span>”<\/p>\n

Our righteousness is IN<\/span> HIM, not apart from Him!!<\/strong> Many think they can grab Jesus righteousness & walk away from Him<\/strong> (& still be saved), but that’s not possible, Jesus IS our Righteousness, our Salvation, apart from Him we can do nothing!<\/strong> (John 15:5<\/a>).\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

A\/<\/strong> First of all,\u00a0 Jesus Christ<\/span> as God is immutable<\/strong> (Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6<\/a>), and cannot change in His divine nature<\/strong>.<\/span> Hebrews 1:12<\/a>.<\/p>\n