John 3:10-16; Num. 21:4-9, Gospel Bridges (Nicodemus, 3)

·       Jesus, v10-21.  Let us now consider Jesus’ words to Nicodemus.

o   v10-13: Jesus expressed amazement that Nicodemus did not know these things.  He knew Nicodemus’ heart, but thought a “teacher of Israel” should know about something that was predicted in the Old Testament. 

§   Deut. 5:29; 29:4; 30:5-6: Moses told Israel God had not “yet” given them a heart to know Him, but in time He would circumcise their hearts.

§  Isaiah 32:15; Ezek. 39:29; Joel 2:28: Frequently, the prophets said that God would pour out His Spirit on Israel and they would know Him.

§  Ezekiel 36:27; 37:14: Ezekiel predicted that the Holy Spirit would live in them and enable them to be obedient to God’s commands.

§  Zechariah 12:10: This passage combines the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Israel with them seeing the One they pierced and mourning over Him.  This is critical for Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus as you will see. 

§  v13: Thus, Jesus was amazed that Nicodemus was ignorant of these truths.  On the other hand, Jesus made it clear that He, having come down from heaven, had a perfect grip on these “heavenly things.”

o   v13-18: Jesus’ answer takes Him to a story in the Old Testament that Nicodemus would have known quite well.  Note Jesus’ last words in v13: the Son of Man who is in heaven.  This “Son of Man” is the One who ascended to heaven but also came down from heaven (v13).  What about this person?

§  v14-15: This Son of Man must be “lifted up.”  We see what He means from a story in Israel’s desert wanderings when Moses “lifted up” a bronze snake on a pole so the people, who were being bitten by poisonous snakes, could look at it and live.  Here are more things to note in the story.

·       The people were being bitten because they had sinned against God for the “umpteenth” time.  This was God’s fury on Israel.

·       Bronze (reddish metal, like fire) was emblematic of judgment.  So, in effect, the bronze snake was taking the judgment of the people.

·       The people only needed to trust God and look at the snake, which was lifted up where all could see.  If they did, they would live.

§  v16: Jesus was saying that the Son of Man, who is God’s “only begotten Son,” was akin to the bronze serpent.  He would be lifted up for all to see, not just Israel, but the whole world.  Those who “look” to Him are those who “believe in Him.”  They would receive life, not just for their earthly days, but eternal life.  This is the new life for those who are born again.

That is the story that explains John 3:16, the favorite verse of many.  Have you “looked” to Jesus?  Amazingly, there must have been people too proud to look to the bronze snake.  More amazing, there are people who will not look to Christ!