Consider some of the lessons of Gospel truth which seem to be foreshadowed in the story of the brazen serpent.
I. There was contained in it a significant intimation that Christ would die. I say significant,because to these Israelites it could hardly be a direct and positive intimation. They must connect it with other types and prophecies, intimating that it would be by His own death that the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, and then the death of Him who was to be their Saviour would be not unaptly represented by hanging the acknowledged type of Him upon a pole. As used in the conversation with Nicodemus, however, there is no doubt about the point of the reference. But it would not be or, at least, to him, as a master in Israel, it ought not to be any mystery that the Messiah Prince should be cut off out of the land of the living.
II. A second Gospel truth conveyed by this history is, that salvation does not come to us through Christ being lifted up merely,but through our looking to Him when He is lifted up. God forces salvation upon no man. It is ready, it is free, it is within the compass of all; but it must be sought. Like some among the Israelites, we would fain have the brazen serpent brought down from the pole, to touch us, and heal and give life to us, against our will. But this would not Moses, this would not God. " Lookunto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth."
III. "And it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." How so? Suppose he beheld it carelessly and without faith, and, as it were, in indolent curiosity, just to see what this new thing was, did he live then? Clearly not. That look must have been a believing look, an obedient look, a look which, casting all carnal reasoning behind, makes its fearless and trusting venture on the word of promise, that "whosoever believeth on Him should not perish." Faith is a command. At the first opening of the eyes we must believe; when the earth is quaking beneath us, and the door of the eternal world is standing ajar, and despair and death are about to claim us for their own, there is nothing for us but to believe.
J. Moore, Penny Pulpit,No. 3,390.
References: John 3:14; John 3:15. J. Natt, Posthumous Sermons,p. 192; Homilist,3rd series, vol. ix., p. 45; E. Cooper, Practical Sermons,vol. i., p. 126; Church of England Pulpit,vol. viii., p. 222; J. Foster, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xviii., p. 380; W. Walters, Ibid.,vol. xx., p. 237; J. Keble, Sermons for Holy Week,p. 114; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. iii., No. 153. Joh 3:14-17. Homiletic Magazine,vol. vii., p. 294.John 3:14-18. Ibid.,vol. xii., p. 91.