Why did Jesus compare the Cross to Nehushtan?

[tonychanyt]

Numbers 21:

9 So Moses made a bronze [H5178] snake [H5175, G3789] and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

John 3:

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent [G3789] in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Jesus compared the Cross to Moses' bronze serpent, drawing a parallel between these two events. The bronze serpent was mounted up for the healing of the Israelites; Jesus would be lifted up on the Cross for the salvation of all who believe in Him. The bronze snake foreshadowed salvation through faith in Jesus on the Cross. Believers look upon Him, the crucified Savior, in faith to receive spiritual healing and eternal life.

Moses made the bronze serpent for good. Centuries later, it became an idol. 2 Kings 18:

4 [Hezekiah] removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

Strong's Hebrew: 5180. נְחֻשְׁתָּן (Nechushtan) — 1 Occurrence

Why did Jesus compare the Cross to Nehushtan?

Jesus did not compare the Cross to Hezekiah's burning of Nehushtan. He compared the Cross to Moses' raising up the bronze snake for healing.

 

[Unqualified]

I don’t want to debate you pal. The Jews believed that nehushtan or that Moses lifting up the serpent brought life. Jesus being lifted up on the cross would bring life in a different way. One short step for them to believe in Jesus.

 

[tonychanyt]

The Jews believed that nehushtan or that Moses lifting up the serpent brought life.

Reference? Note the boldface.

 

[Unqualified]

Logical thought and deduction.

 

[BPPLEE]

Numbers 21:


John 3:


Jesus compared the Cross to Moses' bronze serpent, drawing a parallel between these two events. The bronze serpent was mounted up for the healing of the Israelites; Jesus would be lifted up on the Cross for the salvation of all who believe in Him. The bronze snake foreshadowed salvation through faith in Jesus on the Cross. Believers look upon Him, the crucified Savior, in faith to receive spiritual healing and eternal life.

Moses made the bronze serpent for good. Centuries later, it became an idol. 2 Kings 18:


Strong's Hebrew: 5180. נְחֻשְׁתָּן (Nechushtan) — 1 Occurrence

Why did Jesus compare the Cross to Nehushtan?

Jesus did not compare the Cross to Hezekiah's burning of Nehushtan. He compared the Cross to Moses' raising up the bronze snake for healing.

The serpent represents Satan and Satan was judged and defeated by the cross.
Those who had been bitten by snakes were healed when they looked at the brass serpent so it’s easy to see the metaphor.

 

[tonychanyt]

Logical thought and deduction.

By "logical," do you mean First-Order Logic?

 

[tonychanyt]

The serpent represents Satan and Satan was judged and defeated by the cross.
Those who had been bitten by snakes were healed when they looked at the brass serpent so it’s easy to see the metaphor.

What precisely is the metaphor?

 

[BPPLEE]

What precisely is the metaphor?

The brass serpent is foreshadowing the crucifixion. The Bible is full of shadows and types

 

[65James]

IMHO, it is as Paul stated Jesus nailing our trespasses against the Father, to His cross and spoiling and triumphing over all principalities and powers, Colossians 2:14-15. In the future when Jesus comes without our sins, Hebrews 9:28; we will see our enemy bruise under our feet, Romans 16:20

 

[tonychanyt]

The brass serpent is foreshadowing the crucifixion. The Bible is full of shadows and types

Thanks for the clarification.