Sunday Sermon Summary – Mar 01 2026

Jesus and the Brazen Serpent
John 3: 14 – 17 Numbers 21: 6-9

In our Gospel reading today we heard Jesus talking with Nicodemus about being born again.  Jesus reminded him about the brazen serpent that was lifted up in the wilderness to save people’s lives and explained that the serpent was a shadow or a type of Jesus. 

1. Lifted up – No discrimination  

John 3: 14, Numbers 21: 8

When the Israelites repented and cried out for help to Moses; Moses prayed for them and God commanded Moses to make a brazen serpent, put it on a pole and lift it up. The brazen serpent was lifted up so that anyone who is bitten by the fiery serpent just had to look at the serpent to be saved. The serpent was visible to everyone in the camp. Jesus also was lifted up on the cross and is made visible to everyone through thousands of His followers. There is no discrimination with God. Everyone has the opportunity to be born again. 

2.  Look up – Free to all
John 3: 15, Numbers 21: 9

The only way to survive the snake bite was to look at the brazen serpent. There was no other alternative. There was no other option. Only looking up at the serpent that was lifted up. Jesus is the only way to go to heaven.  Salvation is free. All we need to do is to look up to Jesus in faith. Our Lord Jesus Christ emptied himself of all divine glory and took upon himself the form of a human. Philippians 2: 5, 7. He is able to save.  To be born again is to believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ. We don’t need to struggle to receive salvation. It is free for all. 

3.  Lowered down – Bronze serpent is only a shadow. It was destroyed

2 Kings 18: 4 – king Hezekiah – Nehushtan

The important difference between the brazen serpent and Jesus is that the serpent was only a shadow of Jesus.  It was needed only for that situation. But the Israelites carried it wherever they went, and they called it Nehushtan and even offered incense to it.  It became a snare to the Israelites.  It was idol worship that displeased God.  King Hezekiah burned it down.  But Jesus Christ reigns forever. His kingdom has no end.  He will come back to judge the living and the dead. The brazen serpent was only a shadow.  Jesus is the fulfillment of it. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that who so ever believes in Him should not perish; but have ever lasting life.  Amen!