What does the Bible say about the brazen serpent and its significance?

In Numbers 21, the brazen serpent was lifted up by Moses at God's command as a remedy for the poisonous snake bites inflicted on the Israelites. This act not only demonstrated God’s mercy but foreshadowed the ultimate salvation found in Christ. Just as the Israelites had to look at the brazen serpent to be healed, so too must believers look to Christ, who was lifted up for our sins. The Apostle John references this in John 3:14, identifying the brazen serpent as a precursor to Christ's redemptive work on the cross, where He became sin for us, ultimately providing eternal life to all who believe.