Nicodemus wants to know how a person can be born again or receive new life (John 3:9). Jesus explains it with the example of the serpent in the wilderness of 4.Mose 21 during the Exodus from Egypt.
All the rebellious Israelites who were bitten by snakes had to look at a snake on a pole so that the deadly poison would be ineffective (4.Mose 21:9). They had to shift their gaze from the problem to the conquered serpent.
In the same way, the Son of God will hang on the pole and eternal death will no longer have power over all those who look at him (John 3:14-15).
This is an indication that Jesus’ death on the cross indicates the end of the serpent’s power (cf. Gen 3:15). By recognising the consequences of our transgressions, the poison of rebellion against God is rendered ineffective.
Anyone who wants to live with God needs a spiritual beginning – a yes to a life with God. When we are born of the Spirit (John 3:8), we allow God to change us according to His will.
Messiah images in the Torah
- God seeks us – Adam where are you?
- The possibility of a choice – Two trees in the Garden of Eden
- Neediness instead divinity – A new view
- God’s master plan – Salvation through a human being
- A divine clothing – God acts
- A world upside down – Kai and Abel
- Living in the presence of God – Enoch
- God is calling – Noah
- A king-priest like Melchizedek
- God visits Abraham
- Life through a sacrifice – Isaac
- The ladder to heaven – Jacob
- New identity from Jacob to Israel
- Messiah Ben Joseph – Joseph the son of Jacob
- Shiloh, whom all nations will serve – Blessing on Judah
- Moses, the prototype of the Saviour
- References to Jesus in Moses
- The Passover Lamb
- The pillar of cloud and fire
- God wants to be with us – The tabernacle / The temple
- The snake on a pole – An image of a new beginning
- The rock in the desert – Faith is not a method
- A prophet greater than Moses
- A star from Jacob – Bileam