Seeking Jesus First Jan. 26, 2026
As Moses Lifted Up the Serpent
Today’s Reading: John 3:1–21
(Read the full passage before reflecting below.)
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14–15, NKJV)
As Jesus continues speaking with Nicodemus, He now turns from explanation to revelation. Having spoken of new birth, water, and Spirit, Jesus anchors His words in a story Nicodemus would know well—a moment from Israel’s wilderness journey. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…”
This reference reaches back to Numbers 21. The people of Israel, having sinned against God, were struck by deadly serpents. Many were bitten, and many were dying. God did not remove the serpents immediately, nor did He ask the people to fix themselves. Instead, He instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole. Anyone who was bitten and looked at the serpent lived.
The solution was simple, but humbling. Healing did not come through effort, merit, or understanding—but through trust. The people had to admit they were dying and look outside themselves to what God had provided.
Jesus tells Nicodemus that this moment was not only history—it was prophecy.
“Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” Just as the serpent was lifted for all to see, Jesus would be lifted up on the cross. The parallel is striking. The serpent represented the curse brought by sin; Christ would take that curse upon Himself. What brought death was displayed openly, and healing came by looking in faith.
This is the heart of the Gospel. Salvation is not achieved by climbing upward, but by looking upward. Jesus does not tell Nicodemus to reform his life, master doctrine, or perform righteous acts to earn eternal life. He says, “that whoever believes in Him should not perish.” Belief here is not mere agreement—it is trust, reliance, and surrender.
Notice also how personal the invitation is. Whoever believes. The offer is wide, but the response is individual. Just as each bitten Israelite had to look for himself, each person must respond personally to Christ. No one could look on another’s behalf.
This moment also clarifies something essential. Eternal life is not simply future—it begins now. To believe in the Son of Man is to step out of death into life, out of judgment into mercy. The cross becomes the dividing line. Those who look live.
Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, is being shown that the way of salvation has always been this way. God provides. Man responds. Healing and life come not through effort, but through faith in what God has lifted up.
Today, this devotion invites us to the same simplicity. We do not need to understand everything before we come to Christ. We only need to recognize our need and look to Him. The cross stands lifted still—not as a symbol of defeat, but as the place where death was overcome.
As Moses lifted up the serpent, so the Son of Man was lifted up for you. Look, believe, and live.