Day 3
John 3:14-15
14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
In verse 14 of this chapter, Jesus refers to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness, stating that “the Son of Man must be lifted up” so that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. There are so many layers of meaning here. First, this scripture refers to an incident in Numbers 21:9 when God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and lift it up on a pole so that the Israelites who were dying of venomous snake bites might live. The word “live” used in that passage connects to the idea of eternal life. In Hebrew, the same word- Chayay- refers to eternal life represented by the tree of life. This term doesn’t merely refer to being alive. It speaks to a dimension of healing and flourishing. Therefore, Jesus uses this allusion to show us that he must be lifted up (exalted in Greek) so that we can not just live but have an abundant, healed, flourishing life. The first lifting up was on the cross of Calvary, where Jesus died for our sins. However, the resurrected savior must now be lifted up as Lord in the life of every believer so we can not only be born again but continue to walk in eternal life. Believing in Jesus is not just intellectual consent to the fact that he died for your sins; it is an outworking of that knowledge in your life that causes you to place Jesus above everything else. God sent his son to die not just so you wouldn’t go to hell but so you could have eternal life starting right now. Eternal life begins now! Your old life is dead because it was disconnected from the source of life. So deepening your intimacy with God is the process of being born again and GROWING UP into new life in Christ by making him King on the throne of your life.
Next Steps
Read John chapter 3 and take notes, making observations and asking questions as you read
Mediate on 1 or 2 verses that stood out to you. Focus on what they reveal about God and how the Spirit is inviting you to respond
Write down whatever the Holy Spirit puts on your heart
Reflection Questions
Is there anything you’re exalting above Christ in your life?
Think about when you first got saved. What things stopped you from experiencing the healing, wholeness, and flourishing that comes with eternal life in Christ? What is stopping you now?
What doubts or questions do you ask God late at night because you fear what other people might say?
Prayer Points
God show me what has been taking your place on the throne of my heart. Forgive me and help me to honor you as Lord of my life in all things (Jn 3:14)
Spirit of the living God, awaken me to the mysteries of your kingdom that I have been ignorant of (Jn 3:9-12)
Lord, help me to love your light, even when it exposes those things I want to keep hidden (Jn 3:21)
