January
15, 2003
GOD
MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US
"As
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:14,
15, NKJV).
"Nicodemus
was being drawn to Christ. As the Saviour explained to him
concerning the new birth, he longed to have this change wrought
in himself. By what means could it be accomplished? Jesus
answered the unspoken question: 'As
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have eternal life.' (John 3:14,
15).
"Here
was ground with which Nicodemus was familiar. The symbol of
the uplifted serpent made plain to him the Saviour's mission.
When the people of Israel were dying from the sting of the
fiery serpents, God directed Moses to make a serpent of brass,
and place it on high in the midst of the congregation. Then
the word was sounded throughout the encampment that all who
would look upon the serpent should live. The people well knew
that in itself the serpent had no power to help them. Is was
a symbol of Christ. As the image made in the likeness of the
destroying serpents was lifted up for their healing, so One
made 'in the likeness of sinful flesh' (Romans 8:3), was to
be their Redeemer. Many of the Israelites regarded the sacrificial
service as having in itself virtue to set them free from sin.
God desired to teach them that it had no more value than that
serpent of brass. It was to lead their minds to the Saviour.
Whether for the healing of their wounds or the pardon of their
sins, they could do nothing for themselves but show their
faith in the Gift of God. They were to look and live.
"Those
who had been bitten by the serpents might have delayed to
look. They might have questioned how there could be efficacy
in that brazen symbol. They might have demanded a scientific
explanation. But no explanation was given. They must accept
the word of God to them through Moses. To refuse to look was
to perish.
"Not
through controversy and discussion is the soul enlightened.
We must look and live. Nicodemus received the lesson, and
carried it with him. He searched the Scriptures in a new way,
not for the discussion of a theory, but in order to receive
life for the soul. He began to see the kingdom of heaven as
he submitted himself to the leading of the Holy Spirit."--
The Desire of Ages, pp. 174, 175.
"For
He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him"
(2 Corinthians 5:21). (to be continued)
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