October 18 Son Lifted Up

John 3:13-15 “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
 
FOR the third time in three chapters, John points to Jesus’ divine nature. In John 1, Jesus is partnered with the Spirit’s life-giving power. In John 2, Jesus connects himself with “My Father’s house.” Here he identifies he is both present “in heaven” and “came from heaven”. Fully God and fully man, Jesus remains spiritually present in heaven while he exists in a mortal body. Jesus’ point to Nicodemus is to affirm his authority to speak of heaven. This is a continual controversy, as you can imagine, with the priests, Pharisees and Sadducees as Jesus teaches for three years. These earthly authorities will finally use Jesus’ divine authority claims to condemn him to the cross.
   Again, we see the truth and necessity of knowing the entire Bible. Jesus uses Old Testament imagery to help Nicodemus see Jesus’ divine nature. The reference to “Moses lifted up the snake in the desert” refers to Numbers 21:4-9. This records the story of the rebellious Israelites, who complained God wasn’t pleasing them. In response, God sent fiery serpents into their midst to judge them. To stop this “sin penalty”, God told Moses to lift a bronze serpent on a pole. Whoever looked at it would live. Whoever did not perished in their sin. This was an illustration of the cross to come.
   Thus, when Jesus said, “The Son of Man must be lifted up.” he referred to both the crucifixion and the exaltation of Jesus. “Must” points to God’s sovereign purpose to judge and save. Look to the cross in faith. Be saved. Ignore or despise the cross. Be condemned.
   Jesus also refers to himself as the “Son of Man”. This term comes from a vision in Daniel 7:13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” The Son of Man is under the authority of the Ancient of Days – the Lord God. Christ’s death on the cross, his resurrection, and ascension were accomplished in God’s sovereign authority. Jesus’ obedience revealed God’s glory when the Son of Man was lifted up.
   Here is the Word made flesh unveiling God’s Word. He demonstrates the detailed plan of a sovereign God to save the world from sin.
 
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the ways you reveal your Word to us. May we receive these remarkable teachings in Jesus’ name. Amen.