1inchrist

The Lord Jesus Christ said: “ 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).

Jesus makes a direct correlation between HIS crucifixion and the bronze serpent. The bronze serpent came about after the people of
Israel confessed their sin of murmuring, and complaining, i.e. speaking against God (Numbers 21:5-7). Aren’t you glad there’s Grace? Well, God showed them grace back then too! Remember, the real snakes came about because of their sin. It was God’s grace to allow Moses to make a brass serpent, so they could be healed and live! Brass symbolizes “judgment” and the serpent symbolizes their “sin”. You see, their sin was killing them until they confessed their sin and God’s grace was poured out on them.

In much the same way, our sins were killing us; so Christ came in the fullness of time and He was lifted up just as the bronze serpent was. The judgment for our sin was placed on Him. He took upon Himself our sins. He took our punishment. Isaiah 53: 5 says: But HE was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM; and with HIS stripes WE ARE HEALED. 

Just as we receive “Salvation” by God’s Grace, through faith in HIM, so also do we receive our healing by God’s Grace, through faith in HIM. HE purchased our healing with HIS stripes. If you’ve seen “The Passion of The Christ” no doubt the brutal whipping HE received remains vivid in your mind. That brutal scourging didn’t happen so HE would die quicker; it didn’t happen to demonstrate the wickedness of mankind; it happened that the scriptures would be fulfilled. God had purposed before the foundation of the world that HE would have HIS flesh torn so that we could be healed.

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