The Bronze Serpent and Jesus
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 03. 2021
- What is it about the bronze serpent account (Number 21:4-9) that made it the ideal example of the “lifting up” of Jesus? How is Nicodemus the representative Israelite? What is the dual meaning of the Greek verb “lift up”? How does the Greek translation of Isaiah 52:13 provide the background for John 3? And, in the famous John 3:16 passage, did God love the world “so much” or “in this way”? Chad Bird explores all these questions in this week’s episode of “Reading the Gospels through Hebrew Eyes” as he focuses on John 3:14-16.
The Bible is so rich, thank you for sharing. God's peace be with you.
Thank you so much, Chad. May you and your family continue to receive grace and sustenance this coming week.
Your explanation is so blessings. I pray that Christ give you more wisdom and understanding to share with us.
Thank you again Chad. I actually look forward to Monday now that I have been led to your proclamation of the gospel.
Chad ... Thanks to this video, I learned a lot that I did not know about the deeper interpretation and meanings in John Chapter 3!!! Thanks so much for your interpretations and insights. You have given me much to think about!!! Me and mine wish you and yours all things great and good!!! Take care, be safe , all my best and God bless!!! Chuck Knight from Buffalo, Texas. 🤠🐩🖖✝️🙏☃️👍
Loved this! Thank you
I always relished the fact that in that moment- while speaking with Nicodemus- Jesus changed the idea of the Serpent forever. No longer associated with sin, death and frankly- the accuser, it now served to represent Him. And what better way to do that than to point out the desert experience with the bronze serpent image!
Do you think there is any meaning in 2 Kings 18:4 when the bronze serpent is being treated as an idol? Perhaps symbolic of things or organizations or systems formerly used of God, for example Judaism or, if you look back far enough, the Catholic Church? So now instead of proper use they or any former or fallen system then become an idol like Nehushtan.
Thanks again Chad! Do you think the bronze serpent was portrayed as dead? I say that because it would be as if God was saying to the snake-bitten Israelites, “Trust me, the snake killer. I know you see only snakes and death right now, but forget what you see and have faith.” Same with the cross. “Trust in me, the sin & death killer, even though all you see is both of those things.” Like the Israelites, we look on what’s killing us to be saved. “God made him who knew no sin, to be sin...”
On a side note, I always wondered how Moses crafted the bronze serpent so quickly! I don’t know anything about bronze work in those days so maybe it’s not that big of a deal.
You’re very welcome, Dan! It is certainly an intriguing idea. And, of course, it fits with the theology of what is happening. In the end, I suppose we cannot say definitively what the snake looked like.
Thank you very much Chad , I love listening to your teachings .
Can we say that John is also using the gospel of Matthew which presents Jesus as the New Moses .
Jesus going to Egypt > coming out of Egypt > baptism at river Jordan
> 40 days and 40 nights of wilderness > starting his ministry with 12 disciples > preaching the commandments on Mount > providing food for his followers > condemned by Temple elites > facing judgement of pilate with his hands washing off the crime > going to cross > crucifixion > resurrection > Glory .
Israel > going to Egypt with Jacob > led by Moses coming out of Egypt > Red sea crossing > in Mount Sinai > laws of God >in the wilderness 40 years > temptations and revolts against God > death of first generations > New generation entering the promised land crossing Jordan .
Like Jesus telling the entire Exodus story in single word " born again " in Gospel of John , he represents both the New Moses and ideal Israelite like Joshua .
Was he named Jesus after this spiritual Joshua ?
I would also like to know if there's any other events God showed previously in pentateuch which could be a foreshadowing of bronze serpent " death / glory and Life and crucifixion and glory in the New testament ?
Thanks
John probably did have the Gospel of Matthew. Whether he was imitating Matthew in his presentation of the Mosaic character of Jesus is uncertain. He did not necessarily need to derive that from Matthew. There is a long tradition in the Old Testament itself of leaders (like Joshua), judges (like Gideon), and prophets (like Jeremiah) being patterned after Moses. So, given the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18, we would expect the evangelists to look to Moses as the blueprint for the Messiah.
Yes, Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua.
For the common themes of the hidden glory of God in the Old Testament, you can find many examples in my book, Your God Is Too Glorious.
Thanks 🙏
It appears that the law was the snake and its sting was a failure to accomplish the law which killed you. Unless you were to believe in Jesus being lifted up and nailing the law to the cross. 1Co_15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 1Co_15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Doesn’t seraphim mean or come from the word serpent, and therefore, a serpent lifted up could be a Seraphim of God, the Angel of God in the burning bush? ⚕︎
The Hebrew word commonly translated in Numbers 21 as "fiery" (and sometimes just transliterated as "seraph") is שָׂרַף (saraph). The verb means "to burn" and thus the translation "fiery." This root word is the basis of the seraphim of Isaiah 6. Many scholars believe the seraphim to be winged serpents, linked to the Egyptian griffin or Uraeus serpent. This view has not gone unchallenged, however. In the entry of the Theological Dictionary of the OT on this Hebrew word, the author states that "At least according to the book of Isaiah, the seraphim need not have had the form of a serpent." Indeed, the only physical description we have of them speaks of their hands, feet, wings, and face, which is suggestive of a human-type form, such as some of the humanoid beings in Ezekiel who bear the throne of YHWH. Back in Numbers 21, the seraph is certainly linked with the serpents, but how is uncertain. In my opinion, it would be too far of stretch to think the object on the pole was an angelic type seraph--and certainly not like the Messenger in the bush, which is never described physically nor called a seraph. Moses is just told to make an image of the reptiles that bit the Israelites.
@@chadbird1517 I have to wonder why the bush with an Angel of the LORD in its midst was burning.
@@SeanRhoadesChristopher Fire is a common element in epiphanic experiences, such as at Mt. Sinai and the pillar of fire.
Moses never exist this is a sign of copper🩸 RHO-