And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:14-16)
What was the purpose of the bronze serpent?
The serpent was a reminder of sin. The sin of disobedience and rebelliousness.
God could have easily removed the serpent from among the people but instead, He told Moses to make a brazen image of the serpent and erect it on a tall pole in the midst of the desert so it could be seen from anywhere in the land.
The venomous snakes remained among the people and their poisonous venom was a constant reminder of their ungratefulness and betrayal to God.
But God is merciful and He spoke the word that every time the people were bitten by a snake, they just have to cast their eyes upon the brazen image on the pole and they were saved. (See Numbers 21)
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. (Numbers 21:9)
After this phase was over, the children of Israel moved to a place called Oboth which means waterskins (Strong H88). Based on the meaning of the word it can be assumed that God led them to a place with abundant water.
However, the people kept the bronze serpent and began to worship it as a god. They quickly forget that the miracle of life was from God and not from the serpent.
Thus, the brazen thing, the Nehushtan became a contempt or an abomination in the eyes of God. (See 2 Kings 18:4)
Read also: The imposter and The Nehushtan spirit
Hence, Jesus told His disciples that He would be lifted up on a cross similar to how Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.
The cross is a reminder of sin. We do not need to wear a symbol of the cross or hold an image of the cross in our hands when we pray lest we will begin to see the cross as an image to worship.
Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross was once. Jesus paid the price for all our sins – past, present, and future. They died with Him on the cross.
Christ’s resurrection symbolizes a new life and a new beginning for us.
Therefore, anyone who believes in Jesus Christ will be saved.
It is not the cross itself that will save you it is the Son of God – Jesus Christ.
So, believe and be saved.
Read also: Six Questions that will change your life.
Life or death from the fiery serpent
Becoming the Oil and Wine 
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