Jesus: Lifted Up (v.2)

Jesus: "lifted up"

I wonder how the original hearers reacted when they heard Jesus say this:

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him (John 3:14-15, CEV).

The hearers knew about that snake (see below). They had some idea about the Son of Man. I wonder what they grasped that day? Surely death on a Roman cross would easily come to mind then. But, they did not expect anything bad to befall the Son of Man. (They did expect their Son of Man to make their people great again.) The Jews did not (could not?) use crucifixion to execute anyone. (They were ready to stone people.) Thus Jesus quite early on indicated his death would be via judicial means involving the rulers.

 

Recently, when I saw a motorist start driving into this local underground car park, I was reminded of that moment in Jesus’ doings, and of the ancient antecedent event...

Look:  That is fine; plenty of room in there; spaces galore ….  But, the particular car had a camping pod on top! Despite appearances at the entrance, interior clearance height is only 2.1m. There was no room for the visiting rig to travel in there intact. (This is the site; actual vehicle long gone.)

Oops! Hit!

I am glad to say that when the driver hit the bar he did heed the height clearance warning. (I guess there was a loud bang?) I saw him look up and realise he had to back away and park elsewhere. Whew!

Although it was unthinkable at the time of Jesus, we see the fact was his death lifted up on a cross fulfilled God’s plan to set people free from sin’s wages, and chains. Jesus was comparing what he was doing in his life with what had happened centuries before in the story of his people. The point of comparison is of being elevated to make possible life instead of death. That was so with the ancient survival yielding snake display and for Jesus himself. Apparently people had to be able to look at the snake replica and decide the message was worth heeding by simply trusting. Today people have to put their trust in Jesus and choose to be his follower.

Perhaps this unexpected allusion by Jesus was part of him preparing people for what was to come. It would be easy to recall later on!

In the original event from Moses' day, the snake was an inanimate object put to saving use. (A little like the modern crash avoidance role of the clearance warning bar.) Look up and take the action needed. 

Our Synoptic Gospels do not include this spoken "lifting up" image from Jesus of himself, though the word is used there figuratively or metaphorically (see below). However it may be that Jesus said it often enough, for twice more we find it in John. (Certainly the concept fits with several Synoptic passages, though those passages also include Jesus stating that he would rise again - future post?)

To whom did Jesus speak? Who heard this? John is clear that one leader had come by night (secretly?) to speak with Jesus. Nicodemus appears to represent other(s) as well. The "lifted up" illustration comes in that conversation. From the plurals (v.11) it appears to me that followers of Jesus were present as well. The pericope ends with Jesus and disciples leaving Jerusalem (v.22).

Here is part of a longer, later, larger, public interaction in the Temple between Jesus and a group of questioners and interested potential followers. 

“Who are you?” they questioned.

“Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. “I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the one who sent me is true, and what I have heard from him—these things I tell the world.”

They did not know he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own. But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”

As he was saying these things, many believed in him. (John 8: 25-30, CSB)

There was a lot more to it. Evidently no speaker took up the question of Jesus’ meaning about them (via Rome) lifting him up. At least nothing is recorded. Who would want to lift him up (to die)? Clearly those who opposed him and continued to do so to the end. It am puzzled that Jesus would say their “lifting him up” would mean they would know just who he was. Perhaps that “you” only applied to some of those present? (Is that a suggestion of his death being swallowed up in his resurrection - then the whole truth could be clear to those willing to receive it?)

The discussion went on with Jesus telling those present that they could be made free (!) and could have God for their father, instead of the devil! The time ended with opponents arming themselves to kill Jesus on the spot.

On one further occasion we have Jesus speaking to a crowd in the Temple of being lifted up:

Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them (John 12:31-36, ESV).

Jesus’ work is for the whole world; for all people. God loved the world so much that he sent his son. The Son gave himself for all who will.  However, the speakers in the Temple that day were naturally focussed on their own expectation of their Christ. Clearly here they realise Jesus is speaking of his own death. They must have heard him, or heard of him, saying the Son of Man was to be lifted up. It just did not fit their expectation and hopes. It would not become really clear, even to his sympathetic followers, until after Jesus’ rose from the dead, his salvation work done.

His death would be so very real. But - he would draw people to himself - to his living self, back from the grave!

They, like us, had the opportunity to believe what Jesus said. He is the Light of the World. He wants to shine his truth to each of us.

An old song, "Man of Sorrows": https://youtu.be/z4Jdi1JHnUA

(BTW: Sometimes I hear exhortations to "lift Jesus higher," or some such. That is not what Jesus was talking about in these references.)

Poisonous serpents and Moses

The original report is found in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) book called Numbers, detailing Israelite (Jewish) experiences from centuries before Jesus.

They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. (Numbers 21:4-6, NIV)

The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.  And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.”  So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it upon a pole, and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live (Numbers 21:7-9, NRSVUE).

[A snake bite remedy that worked. I wonder how long it all took Moses & co to make and display the bronze snake. Interestingly, the travellers had come from Egypt, where the snake was revered and feared. (I saw a simplistic marginal note to the text citing "Egyptian snake magic"!!)

The snake symbol was very anciently associated with healing (cf. rod of Asclepius). When and where did that association start? Archaeological artefacts from the region include bronze snakes from even older times.

Maybe we can hazard a guess at what seeing the bronze snake lifted up by Moses said to the Israelites that day (and later)? Was it more like a "First Aid Post" sign; however, attendance not required; will you just look and trust? Did they?

And - how did Moses hear the LORD? 

And - what do you do with the bronze when the bite problem is over? No instruction. It was kept - a souvenir. Long after that, it came to an unexpected (?) end - see 2 Kings 18:4 - seem extraordinary?]

Lifted up

In the GNT, "I am lifted up", etc, is the one (inflected)wse word. Here are the other uses of that word in the Gospels, used mostly by Jesus:

Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15 of Capernaum

Matthew 23:12 "exalt themselves"

Luke 1:52 "the lowly"

Luke 14:11; 18:14 "exalt themselves"

God bless you!

Allen Hampton

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