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Nicodemus Comes to Jesus at Night
103
Nicodemus now began to comprehend the meaning of these
scriptures. He saw that the most rigid outward obedience to just the
letter of the law could entitle no one to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Nicodemus was being drawn to Christ. As the Savior explained
the new birth to him, he longed for this change in himself. How
could it take place? Jesus answered his unspoken question: “As
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son
of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have eternal life.”
The symbol of the uplifted serpent made the Savior’s mission
plain to Nicodemus. When the people of Israel were dying from the
sting of the fiery serpents, God directed Moses to make a serpent of
bronze and place it high in the middle of the congregation. All who
would look at it would live. The serpent was a symbol of Christ.
As the image made in the likeness of the destroying serpents was
lifted up for their healing, so One made “in the likeness of sinful
flesh” was to be their Redeemer.
Romans 8:3
. God wanted to lead
the Israelites to the Savior. Whether to heal their wounds or pardon
their sins, they could do nothing for themselves but show their faith
in the Gift of God. They were to look and live.
Those who had been bitten by the serpents might have demanded
a scientific explanation of how looking would heal them. But no
explanation was given. To refuse to look was to die. Nicodemus re-
ceived the lesson and carried it with him. He searched the Scriptures
in a new way, not for discussion but to receive life for the soul. He
submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Thousands today need to learn the same truth Nicodemus learned
from the uplifted serpent. “There is no other name under heaven
given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
. Through
faith we receive the grace of God, but faith is not our Savior. It earns
nothing. It is the hand by which we lay hold on Christ, who is the
remedy for sin. We cannot even repent without the aid of the Spirit
of God. The Scripture says of Christ, “Him God has exalted to His
right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and
forgiveness of sins.”
Acts 5:31
. Repentance comes from Christ as
truly as does pardon.
How, then, are we to be saved? “Behold! The Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29
. The light shining from