The Teacher: Jesus Christ (3:1–21) - part 3 of 3

Our Lord used four very different examples to teach Nicodemus the basics of salvation. Birth (vv. 1-7), Wind (vv. 8-13), Snake on the pole (vv. 14-18), and Light and Dark (vv. 19-21).

The snake on the pole (vv. 14–18). Nicodemus was probably very familiar with the story in Numbers 21:4–9. It is a story about sin because the people went against God and had to be punished. God sent fiery snakes that bit people and killed many of them. It is also a story of grace because Moses prayed for the people, and God gave them a way out. He told Moses to make a snake out of brass and put it on a pole so everyone could see it. Anyone who was sick and looked at the snake would be healed right away. So, it's also a story of faith: the people were saved when they looked by faith.

The verb "lifted up" has two meanings: it can mean to be crucified (John 8:28; 12:32–34) or to be glorified and exalted. John says in his gospel that Jesus' crucifixion was actually the way He was glorified (John 12:23ff.). The cross was not the end of His glory; it was the way He got glory (Acts 2:33).

Just like the snake was raised up on that pole, the Son of God would be raised up on a cross. Why? To keep us from sin and death. In the camp of Israel, the answer to the "serpent problem" was not to kill the snakes, make medicine, pretend they weren't there, pass laws against snakes, or climb the pole. The answer was to look at the raised serpent with faith.

Sin has bitten everyone in the world, and "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). God sent His Son to die for more than just Israel; He sent Him to die for the whole world. What does it mean to be born from above? How does he or she avoid eternal death? By having faith in Jesus Christ and looking to Him.

Faith in Jesus Christ is what makes the difference between living and dying and between being condemned and saved. Jesus could have come to this world as a judge and killed every sinner who didn't obey Him, but He came to save us and died for us on the cross! He became the "lifted-up snake." The snake that Moses saw gave dying Jews physical life, but Jesus Christ gives anyone who believes in Him eternal life. He has salvation for everyone!

Light and dark (vv. 19–21). This is the final example that Jesus gives to Nicodemus and it happens to be one of the main pictures in this gospel (John 1:4–13). Why won't sinners enter the "light of life"? This is due to their preference for living in darkness! They want to keep doing sinful things, and this keeps them from coming to the light. The closer the sinner gets to the light, the more his sins are shown. People don't trust Christ because they have "intellectual problems." They love the darkness and hate the light because they are morally and spiritually blind.

Please be aware that Nicodemus did ultimately "come to the light." He was in the "midnight of confusion" (John 3:1–21), but he finally came out into the "sunlight of confession" when he identified with Christ at Calvary (John 19:38–42). He understood that the exalted Savior was truly the Son of God.