Chapter 307—Look and Live
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.
John 3:14, 15
.
The lifting up of the brazen serpent [
Numbers 21:4-9
] was to teach Israel
an important lesson. They could not save themselves from the fatal effect
of the poison in their wounds. God alone was able to heal them. Yet they
were required to show their faith in the provision which He had made. They
must look in order to live. It was their faith that was acceptable with God,
and by looking upon the serpent their faith was shown. They knew that there
was no virtue in the serpent itself, but it was a symbol of Christ; and the
necessity of faith in His merits was thus presented to their minds. Heretofore
many had brought their offerings to God, and had felt that in so doing they
made ample atonement for their sins. They did not rely upon the Redeemer
to come, of whom these offerings were only a type. The Lord would now
teach them that their sacrifices, in themselves, had no more power or virtue
than the serpent of brass, but were, like that, to lead their minds to Christ,
the great sin offering....
The Israelites saved their lives by looking upon the uplifted serpent. That
look implied faith. They lived because they believed God’s word, and trusted
in the means provided for their recovery. So the sinner may look to Christ,
and live. He receives pardon through faith in the atoning sacrifice. Unlike
the inert and lifeless symbol, Christ has power and virtue in Himself to heal
the repenting sinner.
While the sinner cannot save himself, he still has something to do to
secure salvation. “Him that cometh to me,” says Christ, “I will in no wise
cast out” (
John 6:37
). But we must come to Him; and when we repent of
our sins, we must believe that He accepts and pardons us. Faith is the gift of
God, but the power to exercise it is ours. Faith is the hand by which the soul
takes hold upon the divine offers of grace and mercy....
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