127. NUM 21:9. THE BRAZEN SERPENT

Num_21:9. The Brazen Serpent

"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."’97Num_21:9.

That the brazen serpent was intended to typify the Lord Jesus Christ, is placed beyond all doubt from Christ’s selection of the subject, and application of it to himself, in his conversation with Nicodemus. Indeed, we cannot conceive of any thing more descriptive of our fallen state, and the divine mode of our restoration, than the history of the diseased and dying Israelites, and their recovery by means of the remedy God so mercifully provided for them. Let us,

I. Notice their Disease.

The occasion was their murmuring against God. The result of which was, that God sent fiery serpents among them, the bite of which was painful and fatal. Now observe,

1. Sin was introduced into our world by he Old Serpent the devil.

He beguiled Eve, and she did eat. Hence he is called "a liar and murderer from the beginning."

2. Sin was introduced by a fiery serpent.

Whether we regard the expression as referring to the bright and dazzling appearance of the tempter, (for did he not appear as an angel of light?) or to the fiery and painful effects of sin upon the human system. Yes, it is as fire in the soul, scorching it up, and filling it with bitterness, and pain, and dread. Isaiah says, "For wickedness burneth as the fire;" ix. 18.

3. Sin is fatal in its effects.

Its deadly poison has affected the whole man. Soul now spiritually dead; dead in trespasses and sin; dead to God and all that is spiritual; exposed to the bitter pains of eternal death. "The soul that sinneth," &c. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." "The wages of sin," &c. There is this difference with respect to the bite of the serpent and the influence of sin, that while some of the Israelites might escape the one, every soul of man is affected by the other. "All have sinned," &c. Not one human being ever escaped. Whole world guilty before God. Notice,

II. The Remedy.

"And Moses made a serpent of brass," &c. Now you will observe, that the remedies in both cases,

1. Were divine.

It was the Lord who commanded Moses, &c.; see ver. 8. Jesus, as the Saviour of the world, was provided, promised, and sent by the Father. God only was sufficient to meet the ruined exigency of the sinner in the provision of a Saviour. No mind was at work, but the mind of God; no power, no benevolence, no mercy, but the power, benevolence, and mercy of God. "God gave his Son," &c. "The Father sent the Son," &c. Observe,

2. The striking resemblance between the agents.

A serpent inflicted the wound, and a brazen serpent is the remedy. By man, the first Adam, came sin; he received its poison into himself, and has diffused it through all his posterity. By man, even the second Adam, comes justification unto life; a full remedy for all the ills and woos sin had produced. By the first Adam’s ignorance we became dark; by his pride, presumptuous; by his disobedience, rebels; by his depravity, diseased; through his sin, beneath the curse. By the second Adam’s wisdom we have knowledge; by his humiliation we have hope; by his obedience we have righteousness; by his wounds, health; and through him, as a curse for us, everlasting life.

3. Both the agents were to be lifted up.

The serpent of brass was to be placed upon a pole within the camp. So Christ was lifted up upon the cross in the presence of the thousands of Israel; and there was a necessity for this; Jesus said, "So the Son of man must be lifted up," &c. "It behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead," &c. And as it was necessary for Christ to be lifted up upon the cross, so also must Christ be lifted up on the pole of a preached gospel; and his suffering elevation on Calvary was in order that he might be placed before the world as a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins.

Then observe,

III. The application of the Remedies.

In both cases it is the same; by looking in the one case, with the eye of sense; in the other, with the eye of faith. The mode of application was in both cases,

1. Easy.

Nothing laborious nor difficult Not by works of suffering, or obedience. No self-inflicted tortures required, &c. Simply, "Behold the Lamb of God," &c. In both cases the remedy was,

2. Gratuitous.

No price demanded; God’s free gift. And thus brought to the level of the most poor and wretched. "Come, buy wine and milk," &c. Both remedies,

3. Were not partial but general.

The serpent was lifted up for all the camp. Christ, for the whole world. None exempted or excluded. Whosoever looked, &c. Whosoever believeth, &c. Observe,

4. The direct similarity between their looking and our believing.

In both cases,

(1) An object must be provided.

(2) It must be placed before us.

(3) We must possess organs of vision.

(4) A testimony and warrant must be given.

Now Jesus is provided, placed before us, we are capable of receiving him; and we have God’s testimony, that through believing on him we shall have everlasting life Observe,

IV. The Success of both Remedies.

"When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." "Whosoever believeth should not perish, but have everlasting life."

1. Life in both cases was the blessed result.

Deliverance from pain and death. Restoration to health and happiness. But how superior the life of the soul! Deliverance from condemnation, from the body of sin and death, and from the wrath to come.

2. Life was the result, however diseased or dangerous.

"Christ able to save to the uttermost," and the "chief of sinners." See the dying thief expiring in two respects by his side.

3. Life was the result, though only one feeble glance was directed to the remedy.

So, if our faith is but as a grain of mustard seed, &c.; as one of old: "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Yes, one glance at the cross brings healing, and comfort, and salvation to the soul.

Application

1 Urge sinners to come to the only remedy. By the wretchedness of their state, by the imminent peril to which they are exposed, and by the impossibility of being saved in any other way.

2. Let believers rejoice and glory in Christ crucified, and invite all around to the same source of happiness and salvation.

3. We see the grand leading theme of pulpit ministrations. To exalt Christ; to publish Christ; to invite men to Christ; and to say to the dying children of men

"Fly, sinners, fly into those arms

Of everlasting love!"

Autor: JABEZ BURNS