John 3:14-15 - The Son of Man Lifted Up

John 3:14-15

14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

Message: The Son of Man Lifted Up

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus was in heaven, he descended to earth for us, to tell us the things of God. And he remarked that he is the Son of Man. I looked at this yesterday and learned about it. But also the "Son of Man be lifted up." 

Jesus our Lord begins verse 14 speaking of Moses holding up the bronze serpent. Numbers 21:4-9 sets up this message. The Israelites are complaining to God about their conditions even though He had saved them from slavery in Egypt. Because of this complaining, God sent a plaque of fiery serpents. People began dying and they called for relief. Moses placed a bronze serpent on a pole and the Israelites who had been bitten and looked up the serpent were saved, those who did not look died. 

Jesus mirrors this by saying that just as the bronze serpent must be lifted up (and people be saved) so also must the Son of Man (Jesus) be lifted up and people be saved. 

This lifting up that Jesus mentions is him being lifted up or raised up on the cross or his crucifixion. Some parallel verses to this thought:

John 8:28 - So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

John 12:32 - And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

John 12:34 - The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

For Jesus to be lifted up it is to die for sin and yet this is connected with His resurrection which defeats sin. And so in verse 15 he states, "whoever believes will in Him have eternal life." 

Summary: We must believe in Jesus that He was lifted up on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. 

Promise: There is only one place where salvation can be found, and that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Prayer: Father, you are holy and true and your ways are always correct. Thank you for Jesus and lifting Him up on the cross to save me from the penalty of my sin. I Believe. Thank you for making it that easy for me to have eternal life. Help many others to believe.