John 3:14-15 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up, 15in order that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Verse 14 is a prelude and prophecy of Jesus’ death on the cross. The reference to Moses lifting up the bronze snake comes from Numbers 21:4-9. The sinful Israelites could be saved from snake bites if they looked toward this snake. In the same way, those who look to the Son will escape eternal death. The use of the verb be lifted up (hypsōthēnai) in this Gospel (8:28; 12:32, 34) has the literal meaning of Jesus being physically lifted up, namely on the cross, and metaphorical of being exalted in worship and praise. To lift up is to glorify. The glory of Jesus was seen most vividly on the cross. From the world’s perspective, death on a cross meant the greatest shame. But from God’s perspective, Jesus’ death on the cross was the greatest display of his love. Suffering brought glorification.
The word it is necessary (dei) shows that Jesus’ death was part of God’s plan. Jesus had to die in order to remedy the problem of sin and open the way to heaven. His death was the seal upon all his teaching and healing. His death was the door to his exaltation as Lord and Savior. Neither Nicodemus or the disciples would have understood the significance of this statement at this point, but after Jesus’ resurrection, it all make sense as they reflected on the significance of what they had experienced.
Verse 15 makes explicit what has been assumed thus far in this Gospel. The object of faith is clearly the Son of Man of verse 14. Those who turn to the Son and believe in who he is, what he has done, and follow in obedience to what he has taught will become part of God’s eternal kingdom. The theme of life in Jesus runs throughout John. Jesus is the only source of life eternal. Eternal life comes as a gift of grace by believing in Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation. The Israelites experienced physical salvation by God’s gracious act of providing a symbolic solution to remind them about how he saved them from snakes. Even more so, God has provided the symbolic act of the cross of Calvary.
To believe in Jesus requires more than intellectual assent, although we must accept in our minds that Jesus is the truth. In John’s Gospel, to believe means entering into a relationship of love evidenced by obedience to what Jesus taught. This Gospel gives many examples of people who came to believe in Jesus and how this changed their lives. They experienced healing, new direction, and forgiveness. John’s goal in writing this book was so that whoever reads it will want what Nicodemus was searching for.
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