Day 9 - Snake Bit No More

by Dwight Hartman

John 3, 7, & 19; Numbers 21:8

In our Evergreen worship, we often have a segment called: “Church, what do you believe?” We repeat great truths about our faith. But if we had to distill it into one sentence, John 3:16 would come close: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It’s so important, John’s gospel repeats it in slightly different ways five more times.

John 3:16 is like a banner on a pole we hold up: to look up to, contemplate our faith in Jesus. John knew this, because in the sentence right before this great statement, he speaks of eternal life - you know, it’s like Moses lifting up the snake in the wilderness. What? Snakes? Cue Indiana Jones’ classic line: “I hate snakes” (spiders are worse for me). Jesus is at his Rabbi best here. It’s called “remez,” or hinting at a previous story. We are to go back to the Scriptures and check it out; it must be important. Yep, back to the wilderness with the Israel nation on their way to the Promised Land. Surprise, surprise they are complaining about food, water, and probably lack of SPF 50 sunscreen. Apparently, the miraculous parting of the waters, provision of manna and water didn’t count. So God sent snakes. Snakes that bite and make you die. Yikes! But, if you get bit and look up to this bronze snake Moses lifted up on a pole, you lived. Hmm. I’m not proud that at times I complain about things, things that God has miraculously provided. My complaints are statements, but are also me screaming at a lack of faith that God has and will provide for me. When Jesus is lifted up (double meaning here -- lifted up in the book of Isaiah is exalted, and also lifted up on a cross in crucifixion), we believe and are delivered from the snakebite-death of our sins.

So, looking to Jesus for eternal life isn’t a new idea, but it was to Nicodemus. Don’t say oh, poor Nick. He was all that: rich, powerful, theologically confident, a religious leader in the prestigious ruling Sanhedrin. Those types of people intimidate me and I’m glad it was Jesus that talked to him and not me. Jesus gave him the “snake talk” that night. It’s the “I am the promised Messiah that has come to bring the kingdom of God and you won’t enter unless you are born again” talk. Whew! To a Torah superstar. Nick is respectful at first, rightfully questions this “born again from mother’s womb” idea, and then asks plaintively, “How can this be?” Nick, this is going to take an act from above. Not your learning, wealth or position. It’s going to be Spirit and water. Baptism into a new life that is given by the Spirit.

Now, the TV Series The Chosen has Nick fall at Jesus’ knees here and believe. The Chosen is awesome, but director Dallas Jenkins had to make it flow. No shade here; like you, I love it! But I don’t think it happened that quickly. John’s Gospel shows more of a progression. He first hears the message, then later he opposes a knee-jerk condemnation of Jesus in the Sanhedrin. In our last encounter with Nick, he joins Joseph of Arimathea in taking Jesus’ body off the cross and in a lavish expression of devotion, bringing 75 pounds of burial spices.

My anemic attempts at evangelism have had some hilarious (now looking back) “failures.” I guess I’d love to see people hear the good news, fall on their knees, repent and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. That hasn’t been my experience. I find comfort in John’s gospel about Nicodemus because that may not be the way it has to happen. The Gospel needs to be shared, and there might be a period of intensive questioning before the Spirit moves in someone’s life. Unlike Jesus, I may leave out the “snake talk” till later.