“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,” — John 3:14

In the Gospel of John, this verse serves as a profound prelude to one of the most well-known passages in the Bible, John 3:16. Here, Jesus draws a parallel between an event from the Old Testament and His own mission. The reference to Moses lifting up the snake in the wilderness harks back to Numbers 21:4-9, where the Israelites, plagued by venomous snakes, were instructed to look at a bronze serpent on a pole to be healed. This act of faith and salvation in the wilderness becomes a symbol of the greater salvation to come through Jesus.

Reflecting on this, we can see how the lifting of the serpent was a tangible demonstration of faith. The Israelites were called to trust in something that seemed irrational, yet it was this trust that brought about their healing. In our modern lives, we are often faced with situations where the solutions are not immediately apparent, and the path forward seems uncertain. It is in these moments that we are invited to lift our gaze, to shift our focus from the chaos around us to the source of our ultimate healing and hope.

The parallel drawn in this verse invites us to consider the concept of being “lifted up” in our own lives. Just as the Son of Man was lifted up, we are called to elevate our thoughts, actions, and relationships. This elevation is not about superiority or pride, but about aligning ourselves with a higher purpose. It is about lifting up our concerns, our burdens, and our aspirations to a level where they can be transformed by grace.

In practical terms, this might mean choosing forgiveness over resentment, love over indifference, or hope over despair. It calls us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and to see the broader picture—one where redemption and renewal are possible. As we navigate the complexities of life, may we remember the lesson of John 3:14, allowing it to guide us towards a life marked by faith and uplifted by the promise of redemption.