Christ Compared to the Brazen Serpent

    CHRIST COMPARED TO THE BRAZEN SERPENT

    "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 everlasting life," Joh 3:14-15.

    METAPHOR

    I. THE people were stung with fiery serpents, and thereby mortally wounded.

    PARALLEL

    I. SINNERS are stung with sin, that is like the sting of a serpent; "The poison of asps is under their tongue," Ro 3:13. Sin wounds the soul, "My wounds stink and are corrupt." See more where sin is compared to a Serpent.

    METAPHOR

    II. Neither Moses, nor the law, could cure the people that were stung with those fiery serpents, but the Brazen Serpent.

    PARALLEL

    II. So neither the law nor Levite, nor any creature could cure mankind, nor redeem them from the sting of sin and death, but only Jesus Christ.

    METAPHOR

    III. The Serpent of brass was to lifted upon a pole.

    PARALLEL

    III. So Christ was lifted up, upon the cross, and is lifted up in the ministry of the word, and the ordinances of the Gospel, and thereby in the hearts of believers, Joh 12:34.

    METAPHOR

    IV. After many people died that were stung, the Brazen Serpent was appointed to be lifted up, as an ordinance of healing.

    PARALLEL

    IV. So after mankind sinned, and was brought under death, Christ came by the appointment of God to die and be crucified, or lifted up upon the cross to heal and recover us of our wounds.

    METAPHOR

    V. A Serpent wounded, and a Serpent healed. The first that wounded had poison in him; but the second, though called a Serpent, was without poison or sting; it had the similitude of a Serpent, but had no venom.

    PARALLEL

    V. So (saith Mr. Guild)[1] as the first Adam lost mankind, the second Adam redeemed mankind. The first had sin and venomous poison in him by means of his hearkening to the old Serpent; the second though called a sinner, and made to bear our sins, and had the similitude of a sinful man, but yet without sin, Heb 7:26-27.[2]

    [1] Moses Unveiled, p. 85.

    [2] Ainsworth.

    METAPHOR

    VI. The Brazen Serpent was not forged by man's hand or hammer, but in a mould in the fire.

    PARALLEL

    VI. So Christ was not begotten by man, but, conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin.[3]

    [3] Guild.

    METAPHOR

    VII. It was made of brass and not of gold; which metal besides that it is of a fiery colour, and so might resemble the colour of the Serpent, is also strong and durable. "Is my strength," saith Job, "the strength of stones, or is my flesh of brass?"

    PARALLEL

    VII. So was Christ sent not with outward glory or worldly pompous show, but mean and humble in outward appearance; brass being strong, &c., in this respect, it might figure out the strength of Christ, who was able by the power of the Godhead to endure and overcome all his tribulations.[4]

    [4] Ainsworth.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. They that looked up to the Brazen Serpent, though ever so grievously wounded and stung, yet were healed and saved from death.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. So they who look up to Christ by a true faith, though ever such great sinners, shall be healed and saved from eternal death. By recovery of natural life in the Israelites, was figured eternal life by Christ.

    METAPHOR

    IX. They that looked upon their sores and grievous wounds, and not to the sign that was erected by God's appointment, died, notwithstanding the Serpent of Brass.

    PARALLEL

    IX. So they who are bitten and grievously wounded with sin, if they fix their eyes thereon, and grieve and mourn in the sight of it, and do not look unto Christ by believing, despair and die eternally, notwithstanding the blessed Saviour.

    METAPHOR

    X. If they sought to surgeons or physicians, or used any salves or medicines of their own, or others, yet they perished.

    PARALLEL

    X. So whosoever seek to any for help but Christ, or endeavour by their own works, or reformation of life, to have peace with God; or trust to, and rely upon the bare mercy of God, considering his justice; and do not come to Jesus Christ; and look up to him as crucified, to satisfy for their sins, are like to perish for ever. Let the men that talk of the light within look to this.

    METAPHOR

    XI. The Brazen Serpent was an unlikely thing or way to human reason, to heal such deadly wounds.

    PARALLEL

    XI. So Christ crucified is to the Jews, and many others in the world, an unlikely way to

    save men's souls: "We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but unto them, that are called, Christ the power of God," &c., 1Co 1:23-24.

    METAPHOR

    XII. He that had a weak eye or eyes, and yet looked up to the Brazen Serpent, was cured.

    PARALLEL

    XII. So he that hath but a weak faith, yet looks up unto Christ, shall be saved. "We read

    of three degrees of faith in the Gospel, and yet the weakest obtained help and cure from Christ. First, one comes to him, and saith, "If I can but touch the hem of his garment, I shall be whole," Mr 5:28. The second saith, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole," Lu 5:12. The third said, "If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and

    help us," Mr 9:22. One would think the last had no faith at all, it seemed so weak,

    he questioned the power of Christ. A weak faith, if true, will justify and save the soul,

    as well as a strong faith.

    METAPHOR

    XIII. It was a wonderful means of cure and undeservedly appointed by God, of his mere pity, against the merit of those murderers.

    PARALLEL

    XIII. So is the death of Christ to sinful and rebellious mankind, an admirable work of unmerited mercy, infinitely above what we deserved; it was not only above, but against our merits: "God so loved the world," &c. Joh 3:16. "Behold what manner of love is this!" &c., 1Jo 3:1.

    METAPHOR

    I. The Brazen Serpent cured only the wounds of the body, and saved thereby only from temporal death.

    DISPARITY

    I. Christ cures all the diseases and wounds of the soul, and thereby saves from eternal death. See Physician.

    METAPHOR

    II. The Brazen Serpent retained not always its virtue to cure: also it was not to be worshipped, it was gross idolatry so to do: and when in the days of Hezekiah it came to be that way abused, it was destroyed, and broken in pieces, 2Ki 18:4.

    DISPARITY

    II. Christ, the Anti-type of the Brazen Serpent, retains the like virtue and efficacy to save

    that ever he had, ought to be worshipped, is "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever," Heb 13:8.

    INFERENCES

    This shows not only the necessity of a Saviour, but also of faith in him. None were

    healed but those that looked up to the Brazen Serpent; so no man shall be saved, but he

    that looks up by faith to Jesus Christ.

    1. Look up timely.

    2. Look up daily, for sin daily wounds thee.

    3. Look up with a fixed or single eye.