What analogies can you see between the bronze snake Moses raised up in the desert and the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross?
Old testament (Numbers 21:4-8):
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2021:4-8%20&version=31
New Testament (John 3:14-15):
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:14-15;&version=31;
2007-09-03 17:33:53 · 12 answers · asked by Mutations Killed Darwin Fish 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How about these additional details:
Bronze - symbol of being able to withstand the judgment (fire). Bronze has a high melting point. God judged our sins in Christ.
Venomous snakes - as Martin S pointed out, Christ became sin for us.
Faith - definitely involved in both cases.
Grace - no discrimination nor partiality. All who believe, receive the blessing and live.
Any others?
2007-09-03 19:02:09 · update #1
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2007-09-03 17:47:41 · answer #1 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You've made it so plain for us. Both were lifted up between heaven and earth in neutral territory, suspended between the two for healing, redemption, and the salvation of mankind, a place were God and man could be reconciled. Heaven is Gods throne, the earth is a fallen place, yet Gods had a plan, a place for reconciliation to take place.
What a beautiful type and shadow. The Law and the Old Covenant was the Shadow, Christ is the image and the Light causing the shadow is the brilliance, the indescribable Creator of all. But all in Gods time, the image became clear and we see the plan unfolding.
He that has ears to hear, behold the Man, Jesus.
2007-09-03 18:50:59 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nice try, but no.
Num 21:4-8 deals directly with the snake bites of Israelites. It is not a prophecy.
In John 3:14-15 Jesus uses it to tell about his death on the cross. Jesus is making the prophecy.
Jesus ministered to the Jews, and in doing so, he quotes from the Scriptures.
2007-09-03 17:45:29 · answer #3 · answered by J. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the importance of the scripture in Numbers is that those who had faith were healed when they looked upon the brass snake. I don't think there was anything special or magical about the snake, I think those who had faith were probably able to be healed by their own power of faith, or that faith allowed some kind of power to come over them that healed them. The significance is that they had to have faith and look at the brass snake. They couldn't just have faith, they also had to look up the snake to be healed. Fath + action.
Is this an analogy to Christ upon the cross? Well, sure. Those who have faith and repent can be forgiven of their sins. It requires more than just faith. We must have faith and repent of our sins in order to be forgiven. Faith + Action.
2007-09-03 17:46:13 · answer #4 · answered by rndyh77 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can answer it simply....
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Yahshua came to show us what would occur on the 7th day, the Day of the Lord, that is, RESURRECTION,HEALING and PEACE. But that day will not come until ISRAEL SAYS 'Blessed is He that comes in the name of YHWH." That is the meaning to John 3:14-15, when ISRAEL, the lost sheep, will raise up their SHEPHERD, and listen to His voice once again.
Right now, the ears are turned to those who still hold the bronze snake on the pole...PHYSICIANS. Yahshua is our true healer, not sons of men.
2007-09-03 17:45:59 · answer #5 · answered by witnessnbr1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't read where it mentioned anything about Jesus or the cross. That was a cure God gave Moses to help out a sinful Israel.
2007-09-03 17:44:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Inasmuch as the episode was not presented as a prophecy, it should not be interpreted as such.
This episode is a reflection of ancient misconceptions of sympathetic magic, and is a clear violation of the Commandment against making graven images. But this commandment did not yet exist, nor would any of them until hundreds of years later. The text was written to attribute them to Moses, but it's a self-serving priestly lie.
2007-09-03 17:41:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It took faith for them to look up at a bronze serpent while live serpents slithered around their feet.It had to be tempting to want to look where you were stepping.
Today when the storms of life come upon us it takes faith to keep our eyes on Jesus, and off of the storm.Peter, did walk on the water when he kept his eyes on Jesus.
Good Question, keep it up!
2007-09-03 17:44:45 · answer #8 · answered by don_steele54 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They both saved people from death. That's the claim at least, and they both involve a figure on a stick.
2007-09-03 17:37:13 · answer #9 · answered by wondermus 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
since jesus was not around God gave them another way to have a miracle.
2007-09-03 17:39:33 · answer #10 · answered by bluecube05 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋