A Bigger Picture
For God so loved the world that He gave . . . John 3:16 NASB
World – Nearly sixty years of theological reflection on the meaning of the events in the life of Yeshua had passed by the time John wrote his gospel account. Perhaps that’s why John begins his account with a deliberate allusion to Genesis. John’s perspective is not simply Jewish nor Gentile. John is interested in the cosmic implications of the good news. So John’s vocabulary pushes us toward a much larger scale, a view of the impact of the incarnation on the entire creation. In the commentary on the conversation with Nicodemus,[1] John focuses the reader’s attention on God’s love for the kosmos. The real reason for the gift of the Son is the reconciliation of all creation. Paul echoes the same cosmic orientation when he says that the whole creation “has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”[2] What is at stake is not simply the means of forgiveness for men. What is at stake is the reconciliation of the entire creation. What happens on the cross is far more significant than an altar sacrifice required for forgiveness. What happens on the cross is the final victory over an enemy that has held the kosmos captive since Genesis 3. The author of the book of Hebrews puts it like this:
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.[3]
Death is the enemy. It is the single ubiquitous sign of the existence of disobedience and disorder. The fact that all men die sets in stone the truth that all men are sinners. “So death came upon all men” is the universal condition of the cosmos for death is not limited to disobedient human beings. The effects of disobedience reach to the very earth itself. Death is the epitome of Satan’s power. If the cosmos is to be reconciled, if the perfect creation is to be restored, then death must be defeated. This is more than a matter of forgiveness for simply forgiving men does not necessarily entail that death is no longer a consequence of living. I could live blamelessly after forgiveness and still die as a result of my prior disobedience. In fact, death is still the universal experience of forgiven human beings. What must occur in order for the groaning of the creation to cease is the removal of death, the victory over the quintessential mark of a broken creation, the utter defeat of the last bastion of Satan’s dominion. And this victory, the final victory, is accomplished on the cross. “That through death he might destroy” points to the cross not simply as the place of human redemption but as the place of cosmic restoration. Yeshua dies in order that death might be rendered powerless. The death on the cross reverses the entry of death into creation.
This is the context of John’s analysis in John 3:16. Moses uses the very image of what causes death among the people. It is true that the serpents come as a result of disobedience, but the immediate issue for the people is death, not the serpents per se. Why does God tell Moses to form a symbol of the serpent? Doesn’t that seem rather strange. Why doesn’t God use the symbol of a lamb (recalling the Passover) or a symbol of the tablets of stone (recalling the covenant). Why a snake? Perhaps the answer is found in the imagery of the serpent from the Egyptian culture. Certainly one of the marks of the divinity of Pharaoh was the headdress that included the serpent. Pharaoh held life and death in his hand. His serpent symbol was a sign of this power. Now God uses this same symbol to demonstrate that He alone has the power of life and death. Just as the plagues are battles between YHWH and the gods of Egypt, here once more we see God doing battle with an Egyptian symbol of divinity. Could the children of Israel, only a few days removed from the presence of the great serpent of Pharaoh, fail to miss the connection? The very thing that is causing them to die becomes the vehicle that God uses to bring life. The power of death symbolized in the serpent of Pharaoh is destroyed. God takes the pagan symbol and turns it into a sign of His sovereignty. Is this symbolism of Pharaoh’s power essentially any different than the Roman symbol of the cross? Doesn’t the cross symbolize the power of life and death in the hands of Rome?
YHWH takes that very symbol of the power of an alien government opposed to the purposes of God and uses it to bring about the restoration of God’s power and Kingdom. When Yeshua submits Himself to death at the hands of a pagan authority, He overcomes the paradigm symbol of that authority by converting it into a sign of God’s vindication, of God’s absolute sovereignty over death and life. What men thought they controlled becomes the vehicle that God uses to vindicate His control. Yeshua is no less rabbinic than Paul or John. He simply draws an analogy between two events in order to make a point about the power of life and death. He tells Nicodemus that when Nicodemus sees the Son of Man lifted up by an alien power he is not to see the sovereignty of a pagan government but rather the sovereignty of YHWH over all creation. Nicodemus will witness the execution of death and the destruction of Satan’s last element of control.
And John’s commentary reiterates this connection. According to John’s theological reflection, Yeshua comes to restore the entire creation. “For God so loved the kosmos” does not speak of the unique need of human beings. That is subsumed under the umbrella of the fall of creation itself. Death is the sure sign of creation’s calamity, and death must be overcome before true restoration can be accomplished. Even though John’s commentary includes a statement about whoever believes in Yeshua, the focus of the verse is on life, eternal life, life that will not end because death has been defeated. There is no mention here of forgiveness or mercy or pardon. The focus is much bigger. Life itself, life as God intended, is to be restored.
Topical Index: John 3:16, world, cosmos, cross, death, John 3:14, lifted up
[1] In spite of the typical indication in English Bibles that Yeshua spoke the words of John 3:16, scholars find it quite unlikely that these are the words of the Messiah. The context suggests that there are John’s commentary on the implications of the prior conversation between Nicodemus and Yeshua. Of course, this doesn’t make the words any less true.
[2] Romans 8:22 ESV
[3] Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV
Serpent on a stick: $
How appropriate also, then, that there is a pyramid on the 1 dollar bill, with the all seeing eye at the top.
But thats all coincidence and conspiracy theories, right?
right.
🙂
I am pretty sure that no one in the wilderness thought of money when they saw the serpent on the pole. Try not to remove the verse from it context in exegesis. If you meant to apply some principle to today’s culture, then that’s a different story.
http://search.blossom.com/geturl?o=0p&i462&KEY=on+the+pole&URL=http://www.torahclass.com/old-testament-studies/37-old-testament-studies-numbers/219-lesson-25-chapter21
Could it be that satan was a saraph/nachash? Luke 10:18 Then He said to them ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.’ In the bible lightning is associated with fire. With a firey streak he was falling from heaven.
It wasn’t in the touching but looking and repenting that they were healed. Interesting…not to look at the serpent but through it to heaven, just like Yeshua on the pole and look through him to heaven. Maybe…either way the one thing dealt with was the sin of rebellion. Looking and deep trust.
While I appreciate the discussion of the lack of contextual relevance in most Christian exegesis noted in the web site article you mention, my investigation stills leaves me feeling a little saddened by the manipulation of the text. First, we should note that seraph is not the same word as seraphim (used only in the plural) – see TWOT # 2292. We should also note that seraph as understood in the 16th C. BC by the Hebrews would certainly have been a reference to the uraeus of Pharaoh, not an disguised reference to Satan. And, BTW, the Genesis account also does not refer to Satan unless you make it read anachronistically. As you correctly point out, the serpent in the Garden is not really like a snake, but that is not grounds for drawing extra-contextual connections. Since seraph and seraphim are not connected, the argument in the article falls apart.
The author of the web article misses the fact that Moses’ use of nechash neshoshet is a word play (and does not mean “bronze serpent”).
Thank you for that insight. I will pass that along.
“In spite of the typical indication in English Bibles that Yeshua spoke the words of John 3:16, scholars find it quite unlikely that these are the words of the Messiah. The context suggests that there are John’s commentary on the implications of the prior conversation between Nicodemus and Yeshua. Of course, this doesn’t make the words any less true.”
How was this determined and by which “scholars”?
Consult Leon Morris’ commentary on John in NICNT for references.
Last night after logging off, I reminded myself to remember Lot’s wife. When I prayed before bed, I asked the Lord for his wisdom and guidance because I want to do His will.
This morning after my daily prayer and reading, which included some work in the Epistle to the Hebrews, reference to passages in Acts, I thought – well I need more confirmation. I remember reading a story of someone else that wanted to be sure and asked to see dew. I don’t recall that Our Father had a problem with that.
Then I checked my email to read my daily promise and it reminded me that I am more than a conqueror. I also started to hope that my reference to Jim Jones was not taken the wrong way. I could have referenced the Willie Lynch letter instead. Ever read that? I read it occasionally just as a reminder.
Anyway, if I don’t want my conscience bothering me tonight I’ll have to let you know this and apologize if anyone took that the wrong way. Cyberspace. Oh well.
So, I’m not going to back down. I do have other things to do however. I’m trying to put together a RFP that will help aged out foster children with children of their own, break the cycle of child abuse. That’s going to be a major task in the area where I live.
I don’t know what it is about me that always wants to help everyone else feel better and “virtual hugs” leave a lot to be desired. I always have to wonder if I helped or if I hurt. Then I can’t sleep at night. So, I am going to make an attempt not to comment. Of course, surely as I live and breathe, Skip will pique my curiosity and I will have to add yet another something to my ever-expanding list. So, I probably won’t even open the daily posts for a bit, and I’m surely not going to be “lurking”. LOL!!!
Speaking of LOL, just a few months ago my daughter gave me a band to wear. I have not taken it off. It reads: James 2:8 LOL-LOVE OUT LOUD
When she struck off on her own, I gave her a bracelet with the letters: WWJD? Helps me understand better about Tzitzits. I’m going to see if I can find a bracelet that says: REMEMBER LOTS WIFE.
If you can accept me, as I am, loops and all – I’d appreciate it.
I have a sick husband that I’m home with today. Sick men can be worse than sick children. Pray my strength in the Lord.
His handmaiden in training
jeanette
“Moses built, however, according to the texts, a nachash-nachash.”
Hmmm
Now Nachash was a character in Genesis, the serpent.
The brazen serpent-serpent, which is symbolized by the logo for the American Medical Association
And what the people grabbed hold of to keep from dying.
An electrical engineer was in a discussion once, heard the story above, and immediately yelled out…
“It was a grounding rod!
So the flying serpents were electrocuting the people from the air.
Grabbing the brass (copper) rod grounded them so the attack would not kill them.”
Ha Satan on the other Hand was part of YahweH God’s Heavenly court (see Job for description)
Up there with the other “Sons of God” (like Yes Hua)
And quite unlike the primitive cartoon-like snake in the Garden 🙂
For God SO LOVED the world.. Yes, to redeem and to restore His creation in it’s entirety. All creation feels the effects of sin. We live in a world polluted, stained and scarred by sin. Unless we are blind in one eye, and can’t see out of the other- none of us has to look very far to see this.
As (the) Christ, the Anointed One said to Nicodemus, – a very upright, moral, and respected man- possibly the “best of the best”- one who’s “walk” was blameless, one who’s very name translates “Superior” -( the original “Nick-at-nite?”) Nicodemus, (even?) “you must be born from above.” One thing about our Savior, with penetrating insight, He never (ever) wastes any words but goes straight for the heart. Even with all the “credentials and degrees” of this “Superior” and respectable man, “a leader of the Jews”- our Savior knew the heart-need of this one “who came to Jesus at night.” I’ll not question his motives, but rejoice in his approaching and talking/reasoning with the Redeemer and Savior of all mankind. Did Christ sufficiently explain, did Nicodemus understand what the Savior was saying? – and was he (either then, or eventually- “born from Above?” May we review the words of the Savior of all the world?
They have been written for us (all) in a Book. A Book full of the life-giving words of God.
This conversation (lest we forget) was between “a ruler of the Jews” and the King of the Jews. And not only King of the Jews, but according to the scriptures- “LORD of all.” (I do love that word “all,” y’all!) ~ For the Messiah also has once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Ruach: ~ Jesus replied to him, “Truly, truly- (amen-amen!) I tell you emphatically, unless a person is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3.3 )
A person. Do I qualify? Am I (also) a man? Any man? A person? Do I also need to be “born from above?” Is this “new birth” necessary to enter into the kingdom of Heaven? From (just) these two witnesses, Nicodemus (whose name is Superior) and Yeshua HaMashiach (whose Name is Salvation)- Do we (who are alive and well today) see our need for this “new birth” spoken of by our Savior?
The Philipian jailer, (not a leader perhaps, but “a person” nonetheless) having just witnessed the “release” of not only Paul and Silas, but the potential freedom of all the other prisoners, thus ending his (illustrious?) career as a jailor and the possible extinction/termination of his life, inquired of Paul, ~ What must I “do” to be saved? ~ Is (he inquired) this question still relevant for us (even) centuries later? For I (too) want to be saved.. What must I do? What must “any man” do? Is salvation even necessary? (Only if..) What were our Savior’s words? “unless you (Carl) are born from above, you (Carl) cannot see the kingdom of God. Now, it is “I” who “must” be born from above, so my question is the very same- “What must I “do” to be saved?”
The very first thing I must “do” is to ask the right question! For (praise God!) Salvation is not in “do,” – it is in “done.” Jesus paid it all. My God, my Savior has ransomed (paid my sin debt) for me in full. ~ For He became sin, Who knew no sin, (the sinless-spotless-sacrificial Lamb), that we (whosoever will) might be made the (very) righteousness of God,- in Him ~
Salvation is an exchange. What do we give Him? Our sins,our sorrows,our sickness. What does He give in exchange? New life. How did Peter put it? ~ Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory ~ ( 1 Peter 1.8). I’d like to say more about it, but as the scriptures state- “it is unspeakable!” (lol!)
I’ve yet to receive a satisfactory answer, but I’ll still “hammer away..” Is (he inquired) “eternal life” a quantity or a quality? (helpful household hint..- the answer is “Yes!”- it is.)
My sins are gone
I’ve been set free
My God (and) my Savior
has ransomed me.
And like a flood
His mercy reigns.
Unending Love,
Amazing Grace.