Fourth Sunday of Lent

   Jesus said to Nicodemus “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever who believes in him may have eternal life.”  (John: 3: 14-15)

   These words from today’s Gospel reading have a lot to tell us.  Jesus is referencing the book of Numbers, chapter 21.  The Israelites, on their way to the promised land, had once again begun complaining against Moses and the Lord.  It seems freedom from slavery in Egypt, passing through the Red Sea and the promise of God wasn’t enough for them.  They bitterly complained, accusing God and Moses of bringing them out of Egypt only to die in the wilderness.

   As punishment God sent serpents among the people.  Anyone who was bitten by the serpent died.  This got the Israelites attention; they cried out to Moses to intervene with God on their behalf.

   God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it up as a sign; anyone who looked upon the serpent in faith would live.  This is a foreshadow of the crucifixion of our Lord and the point that Jesus was trying to make to Nicodemus in the Gospel.  Just as the Israelites in the wilderness were saved from the serpents, all who look upon Jesus on the cross in faith will also be saved.

   I believe this is why it is important that we look upon a crucifix rather than an empty cross.  The staff that Moses fashioned was not an empty staff, it had the serpent on it.  The cross alone is not our salvation, it must have Jesus crucified upon it.  We need to recognize the sacrifice and death of Jesus, not just the instrument of His death.

   The serpents were sent to punish the Israelites because of their lack of faith in God.  They physically died because of that lack of faith.  Satan tempts us and tries to lead us away from God.  If we turn from Him we will die spiritually.  If we wish to see Heaven we must look upon Christ upon the cross in faith just as the Israelites had to look upon the bronze serpent on the staff.

   How many of us see a crucifix, perhaps make the sign of the cross and go on about our day.  Do we take the time to look with faith, trusting in Jesus and His promise of salvation?  The Israelites didn’t have faith that God would keep His promise.  When we contemplate Christ crucified do we have faith that He will keep His?