'Look . . . and Live' (Numbers 21:8)
Fixing our eyes on Jesus is the key to salvation and eternal life.
Anne Ortlund preaches about the powerful symbolism of Jesus being lifted up like the bronze snake in the desert, emphasizing that by believing in Him, we receive eternal life. She highlights the approachable and tender nature of Jesus, inviting us to come to Him without fear but with faith. Anne encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the ultimate Healer and Savior, who brings us closer to God and offers us the gift of salvation through His sacrifice.
Text
There was a time when the Israelites in the desert had gotten into so much sin that God sent snakes among them to bite them, and many died. But then God said to Moses,
"Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived (Numbers 21:8-9).
And Jesus -- the final, ultimate Healer -- told Nicodemus,
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:14-15).
But does Jesus, lifted up, seem too remote? Or does He intimidate you? I'm praying as I write that you'll understand just how personable He is.
"Come to me," He says (Matthew 11:28).
"Handle me, and see" (Luke 24:39, KJV).
How tender He is, how unthreatening! He's wooing you, saying, "Don't be afraid; just believe" (Mark 5:36).
He does not fight or shout;
He does not raise His voice!
He does not crush the weak
or quench the smallest hope (Matthew 12:19, TLB).
* * * * *
God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together (1 Timothy 2:5, TLB).
* * * * *
So come, my friend, I came many years ago. You come, too.
Let us draw near with a true heart, in absolute assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience (Hebrews 10:22, Moffatt). For Christ . . . suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18, KJV).
For your personal salvation, what an "unspeakable gift" He is (2 Corinthians 9:15)! -- or as the Living Bible says, a "Gift too wonderful for words."
Fix your eyes on Jesus.
* * * * *
There is no beauty to be discovered anywhere comparable to fixing your eyes on Jesus. There is no life-changing power available anywhere comparable to that gaze.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Israelites' Sin and God's Judgment
- A. God sent snakes among them to bite them
- B. Many died as a result
- II. God's Provision for Salvation
- A. Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole
- B. Anyone who looked at the bronze snake lived
- III. Jesus as the Final Healer
- A. Jesus told Nicodemus about the bronze snake
- B. Jesus must be lifted up for eternal life
- IV. Jesus' Personability and Invitation
- A. Jesus is tender and unthreatening
- B. He invites us to come to Him
- V. Jesus' Mediatorial Role
- A. He brings people together to God
- B. He suffered for sins to bring us to God
- VI. The Gift of Salvation
- A. Jesus is an unspeakable gift
- B. He is the source of life-changing power
Key Quotes
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” — Anne Ortlund
“Come to me, and I will give you rest.” — Anne Ortlund
“Fix your eyes on Jesus.” — Anne Ortlund
Application Points
- We can trust in Jesus' personability and invitation to come to Him.
- We can fix our eyes on Jesus and trust in Him for salvation and eternal life.
- We can draw near to God with a true heart and in absolute assurance of faith.