As Moses lifted up the serpent... so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
John 3:15
Jesus was talking to Nicodemus when he made this statement. Nicodemus belonged to the party of the Pharisees, but he believed that Jesus was sent by God, because of the miracles he performed.
Jesus told him he must be born again. Nicodemus could not understand this symbolism. Jesus said, "You must be born of the spirit." In the book of Numbers 21:4, the Lord had sent poisonous snakes among his sinful, complaining people. When they asked for forgiveness, the Lord had Moses make a metal snake. Moses made a bronze snake on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten could look at it and be healed.
So Jesus must be lifted up, spiritually. We, believing, will be saved.
Beverly Fahlstrom (2010)
