The Son of Man Must be Lifted Up

John 3:16

Have you ever referred to John 3:16 in order to explain the gospel to someone? John 3:16 practically is the gospel, all in one verse. Many can recite these words by memory: “For God so loved the world…” If you are like me, however, you may have overlooked the context of the verse and missed a couple of details important to what the apostle John wants us to understand. Though my explanations here will barely open the door, let’s reconsider John 3:16.

The verse begins with for. Our word for has many uses. In this case, the for indicates that the writer is going to add explanation. What precedes are words Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel who came to Jesus by night. Jesus said, “And 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)

When John begins the next verse (3:16), he begins with a short explanation of commentary on what Jesus meant in speaking to Nicodemus.

By the way, I think that Jesus’ words to Nicodemus end at John 3:15^*. The Lord spoke those words about A.D. 30. The words of John 3:16 are written by the apostle John near the end of his life, around A.D. 90. This beloved disciple learned at Jesus’ feet, walked with Him, witnessed His works, and heard His words. Possibly, he was present to hear Jesus speak to Nicodemus. John writes now, 60 years later, after a life as an apostle and elder of the early church. Not only is the Holy Spirit directing John as he writes, but also, as we say, John “knows what he is talking about.”

John begins with “so”. Strong’s Concordance defines so (Gk. outos): “in this way (referring to what precedes or follows)”. In this way God loved the world…the so indicates the manner in which God loved the world. Yes, God loved the world to a great degree, to give His son, but the so here refers primarily to the manner, rather than the degree, of God’s love.

Numbers chapter 21 tells that Moses fashioned a brass serpent and lifted it up in the middle of the Israelite camp. The Israelites had complained against the Lord, and the Lord brought fiery serpents with deadly bites, so that many people died. But the people repented and God told Moses to make a brass serpent and put it on a pole; and that “every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”

Jesus says, as Moses lift up the serpent, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. Here, He prophesies of His own lifting up, lifting up in the camp of Israel as it were, for all to see. Who of Israel would look? It would be foolish not to look, given God’s instructions. If you are bitten, go look at the brass serpent on the pole. This is not reasonable, in itself, as an antidote to a deadly bite, but looking at the brazen serpent was the instruction of God, the word of God, and believing and obeying God’s word brings salvation. Whoever of the Israelites were bitten and looked, lived.

And so Jesus makes poignant reference to Israel’s history – we can imagine that Nicodemus had taught this part of Israel’ history – and to a remarkable lesson they learned: to look to a creature lifted up on a pole for salvation; and he compares that look to believing in Him when He will be lifted up. In the one case, physical life was saved and the person lived. When Jesus is lifted up, believing in Him brings eternal life. Who would understand and believe on him lifted up, this death of Christ wherein God’s wrath against sin is satisfied, wherein Christ draws men to himself that they might receive the mercy of God? Jesus speaks again of being lifted up, in John 8 and John 12:32-34. Who would remember the serpent on the pole? Who would remember that looking at the serpent removed the sting of death? Who will believe that a lifted-up Jesus takes away death and brings everlasting life?

I encourage you to memorize John 3:14-15, so that when you want to speak to someone about John 3:16, you can remember what Jesus said and what John is talking about when he tells, in this way God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Robert Haley III

With thanks to Jack Shaffer for the pattern, as well as insight into word meanings.

*Of several reasons to think so, here are three: I. the verb tenses change from present through verse 15 to past in verses 16-21, indicating a look back to the conversation; II. the progression of the Nicodemus story ends at 15, and explaining follows; III. verses 18-19 declare past results of faith and unbelief, results which at the date of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus were not evident (Nicoll).