The Bronze Serpent: What Did It Mean?
- Jan Shrader
- Mar 21, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 1
Portraits of Christ in the Old Testament – Lesson 7
Typology – the Bronze Serpent
Snakes always terrified Meghan. She blamed this fear on her brother Randy who worked on a ranch in southeastern Arizona. In Arizona, rattlesnakes are common and most cattlemen hate them for their venomous bite.
When quizzed about her phobia, Meghan could not say for sure how many times she watched her brother kill a rattlesnake. There was the time he used a hoe to defend her family because one snake had gone into the backyard to reach the dog’s water. And another time he shot one in the carport. She was not sure why the rattler wanted to take up residence in their carport. Numerous times, they were horseback riding through the desert and a snake would spook the horses. It wasn’t watching him protect their family from snakes which passed his fear on to Meghan; it was the attitude that came over her brother when he saw a snake. His adrenaline would start pumping, his countenance would change, and she knew instantly they were in the presence of real danger.
Meghan lived forty years knowing she was afraid of snakes and felt no compulsion to conquer her phobia. Then she started working at a cactus nursery where reptiles of all sorts and varieties were common. Some, like the king snakes, were even welcome at the nursery because they would eat the rattlers and the ever-present pack rats on the property. It was the commonness of working in an environment where she could encounter a snake at any time, which first initiated her deliverance from her fear of snakes.
The fear of snakes is a common terror and figures strongly in our next portrait of Christ in the Old Testament, the Bronze Serpent. This picture is unique because Jesus, himself, is the person who originally introduces the application of this metaphor in John 3:14. Why does Jesus highlight the Bronze Serpent as a type of Christ? The Bronze Serpent is a prophetic picture from Israel’s past that illustrated the kind of death Jesus would suffer (John 12:32-33).
The Old Testament passage Jesus points to is found in Numbers 21:4-9. In this episode, God sent fiery serpents among the people after they made derogatory remarks against God and his servant Moses. These poisonous snakes were unrestrained in their attack on the Israelites. Imagine the confusion and pandemonium which must have erupted in the camp. Two to three million people were camping in close proximity to each other, along with their livestock, and all were struck by the fear and the reality of striking snakes. Snakes normally inhabit arid regions, but in their entire trek across the desert, serpents had never before endangered them. Yet, it was the people’s accusations and complaints against God and his goodness that had opened the door to their suffering (Num. 21:4-6). After many had died from the venomous snakes, the congregation came in repentance to Moses and he intercedes before God on Israel’s behalf. God told Moses,
“Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten when he sees it shall live.” (Num. 21:8)
After God’s instructions, Moses fashioned a bronze snake and placed it on a pole, so that all could see it and those who looked in faith on the serpent were cured and healed. The people specifically asked Moses to pray that God would take away the serpents (Num. 21:7). Instead, God left the snakes and gave the people a remedy for the poisonous bite. Why did God answer their prayers in this way? There were numerous ways God could have delivered the Israelites from snakebite, but this outcome foreshadowed the coming power of Jesus’ cross.
Jesus refers to this ancient incident halfway through a chat he has with Nicodemus, a seeker who comes to visit him by night. Why did Nicodemus call on Jesus after dark? Possibly, he wanted to hide his coming from those who would disapprove of him seeking out Jesus? Scripture tells us Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the ruling counsel (John 3:1). Maybe, he was looking for a face-to-face opportunity to meet with Jesus alone.
The narrative of John is the only New Testament book to mention Nicodemus by name. He is found three times in this gospel. Firstly, we see him in John 3:1-21; and secondly, he is mentioned defending Jesus in John 7:40-52. In this second passage, the chief priest and Pharisees were angry with the temple guards because they did not arrest Jesus. Lastly, Nicodemus is brought to our attention when, with Joseph of Arimathea, he takes Jesus’ body from the cross for burial in John 19:38-42.
It is interesting to note in speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus never condemns him for a clandestine visit after dark. It is as if Jesus understands that Nicodemus is a thinker and it will take him a while to embrace Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus shows great patience here, but he is also direct with Nicodemus about his need to be born again, mentioning it three times in these verses (John 3:3, 5, 7). John 3:14-15 reads this way,
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
Why did Jesus choose the picture of the Bronze Serpent at this moment in their conversation? In the entirety of Jesus’ teaching he used many metaphors to reference himself, but here he unveils this one to prophesy the type of death he would die. Jesus’ exaltation on a cross had already been foreshadowed in Israel’s history. And, by the time Nicodemus stands beneath the cross, he is reminded of their discussion on that fateful night, three years earlier. Finally, at this crucial time, Nicodemus is no longer interested in being a secret disciple of Christ, but wants to openly care for Jesus’ burial (John 19:38-42). Therefore, the first principle we need to understand about the picture of the Bronze Serpent is Jesus uses this story to predict the kind of death he would suffer (John 12:32-33).
The next truth we want to understand about the “Bronze Serpent” portrait is Jesus became sin for us. The role the serpent played in the Garden of Eden is legendary. The serpent was the character in the Garden who tempted Adam and Eve to sin. One reason God told Moses to lift up a snake was the serpent was a picture of sin and this Old Testament typology indicated the substitutionary work of Jesus at Calvary. Jesus would not just bear our sins on the cross; scriptures teach Jesus became sin for us so that in him, we might become the righteousness of God. Look at 2 Cor. 5:21.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus made these statements the last week of his life. While it is true he was speaking of his impending death, he was also pointing to our clear purpose. It is our privilege to exalt Christ upon the earth. We are helpless in our strength to lead anyone to Christ, but God is able. Often times we spend an enormous energy exalting a spiritual book or a dynamic speaker to an unbeliever because we know these spiritual advisers could make a difference. Sometimes, we spend an inordinate amount of time trying to convince a friend to attend a meeting or certain church service. But this passage carries a truth we need to grasp. Solely exalting a book, a person, or a church will not draw people to Christ. What we can do, according to John 12:32, is lift up Christ; and when he is exalted, he will do the “work” of leading people unto himself. We need to brag on the Lord Jesus Christ, and tell others the difference Christ has made in our lives. When we simply share Jesus, he simply attracts unbelievers to himself.
As time went on, Nicodemus’ reasoning would flow against the tide of pharisaical opinion (John 7:40-52, John 19:38-42). Meeting Jesus transformed Nicodemus from an educated scholar into a devoted follower. If you want to understand the picture of the bronze serpent, you must see Jesus was prophesying the type of death he would suffer, becoming sin for us and drawing all to himself.
Meghan knew she was not going to be able to do the job that she loved at the cactus nursery, and keep her dread of snakes. She made a conscience decision to realize it would always be normal to run into reptiles of any kind at the nursery. Today, while Meghan possesses a healthy respect for snakes, she does not fear them.
Before engaging in these questions, stop and ask God to speak to you and then begin.
1) Do you believe the people in Numbers 21 took a passing glance at the bronze serpent or do you think they stared? Why?
2) What was the people’s responsibility when Moses lifted up the serpent?
3) How can you simply brag on Jesus today?
The Bronze Serpent was a picture of the sin that Jesus would become for us. Without executing this spiritual exchange, we could never become the righteousness of God (Romans 3:23).
