Just As Moses Lifted Up the Snake

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Just As Moses Lifted Up the Snake

Date: Jan. 20, 2018

Passage

John 3:1-15 (ESV)

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 3:14-15

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.

1. You must be born again (1-8)

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. He seemed to have everything. Yet he had to come to Jesus at night. Jesus knew his problem and gave the answer, "To see the kingdom of God, you must be born again." Nicodemus misunderstood it as a physical rebirth, which was impossible for an old man. But Jesus meant spiritual rebirth, which was possible by believing in Jesus.

2. So the son of man must be lifted up (9-15)

Nicodemus was a teacher of Israel yet he did not understand the spiritual world saying, "How can this be?" Jesus pointed out his problem. That was not to accept Jesus' new teaching out of his ignorance and pride. Jesus testified that he was from heaven. Jesus further revealed about how to have eternal life; God would lift him up as Moses lifted up the snake. Everyone who looked up at the snake was healed as God promised. Now God would save anyone who looks up to the crucified Jesus by giving him eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being lifted up on the cross so that whoever looks and believes in you may have eternal life.

One Word: So Jesus was lifted up.

In the Eyes of the Lord

2 Kings 15:17-38

Key Verse: 15:34

And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

Today's Question

What is the first commandment?

See answer and references