The Son of Man “Lifted Up” in John’s Gospel (1) - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
John 3:14

The Son of Man "Lifted Up" in John's Gospel (1)
Three times in John's Gospel we find a statement about the Son of Man being lifted up (; 8:28; 12:32-34). On all three occasions it is the Lord Jesus Himself that declares it, and it is evident from His words that He is speaking about His impending death on the cross. Christ first mentions it in a conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and religious ruler of the Jews. It is lovely to see Christ as a soul-winner here, as we often do in John's Gospel particularly. He explained to Nicodemus that he must be born again—a matter which this sincere man had difficulty in understanding (3:4, 9). Then the Lord told him the story about a brass serpent that Moses lifted up in the wilderness. Nicodemus would have been very familiar with the story found in Numbers 21:4-8.

The children of Israel had been bitten by serpents because of their sin against Jehovah, a graphic picture of man's sinful condition and of Satan's power over men (cf. Eph. 2:1-3). Yet God provided a remedy: a serpent of brass, lifted up. In the Bible, brass often speaks of God's unyielding judgment of sin. Yes, Satan was judged on the cross; it was for this purpose the Son of God was manifested (1 Jn. 3:8; Heb. 2:14; Jn. 16:11). Every Israelite looking on the pole would be healed and live! In applying this type to the heart of Nicodemus, the Lord Jesus said that when Moses lifted up this pole with the brass serpent it was a picture of Himself, the Son of Man, being lifted up upon the cross. All who believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:14-15).

Brian Reynolds

"Look and live," my brother, live,

Look to Jesus now, and live.

'Tis recorded in His word, Hallelujah!

It is only that you "look and live."

William A. Ogden