Re: Why Did Jesus Compare Himself to a Snake?
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Christ illustrated the purpose of his crucifixion with an incident in Israel's history recorded at Num 21:5-9 wherein Moses' people became weary of living in the desert and eating manna all the time at every meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning their divine benefactor for tastier food and better accommodations, they became hostile and confrontational.
In response to their insolence; God sent a swarm of deadly poisonous vipers among them; which began striking people; and those snakes were really lethal. In no time at all, much people of Israel died.
Then those not yet dead came to their senses and asked Moses to intercede. In reply; God instructed Moses to fashion an image of the vipers and hoist it up on a pole so that everyone dying from venom could look to the image for treatment.
The key issue here is that the image was the only God-given remedy for the people's bites-- not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church attendance, not scapulars, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not the Sabbath, not charity, not Bible study and Sunday school, not Torah studies, not tithing, not one's religion of choice, not self denial, not the so called golden rule, not vows of poverty, nor the Ten Commandments, nor door-to-door missionary work, no; not even prayers. The image was it; there was no other option, no other hope: nothing left to anticipate but the sum of all fears.
● John 3:14 . .Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
● John 3:18 . . Whoever does not believe stands condemned already.
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