Destined for the Crossনমুনা

In the book of Numbers, we find a significant historical event in the history of the Jewish people that gives us insight into the death and resurrection of Jesus, and what it makes available to believers. In Numbers 21:4–9 we find the people of God traveling from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. Scripture says that they grew impatient upon the way and spoke against God and Moses saying, “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!” (v. 5).

In response, God sent venomous snakes among them that bit the people, causing many to die (v. 6). Then, the people came to Moses and, acknowledging their sin, they asked Moses to pray that the Lord would take away the snakes, so Moses prayed (v. 7).

Do you see the parallel? Dead in their sin, they cried out to God for help. And help He did! Scripture says that the Lord instructed Moses to make a snake, put it on a pole, and anyone who has been bitten could look upon the snake on the pole and live (vv. 8–9). Fast-forward to Jesus in John 3.

Jesus was lifted up in the crucifixion, lifted up in the resurrection, and lifted up in the ascension. However, the universality of verse 17 must be interpreted through the particularity of verses 15 and 16. Verse 17 doesn’t mean that everyone will be saved (and enjoy eternal life). Salvation is limited to those who believe in Jesus.

The Bible is clear here that there are two distinct outcomes regarding life after death—one with Jesus for all eternity, and one separated from Jesus for all eternity. 

In answer to Pilate’s question of why Jesus had to die, Scripture says that Jesus died so that we might have eternal life.

It is in our glorified bodies that we will enjoy a renewed heaven and earth, where neither pain nor sorrow nor aging nor lack will ever be felt again. This is why the apostle Paul told believers not to mourn or grieve as the world mourns or grieves, because through the cross we have both everlasting life and eternal life.