A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 2 · Subpart 51
Christ compared to the Brazen Serpent.
Joh. 3.14, 15.
As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness; even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life.
Type.
THe People were stung with fiery Serpents, and thereby mortally wounded.
II. Neither Moses, nor the Law, could cure the People that were stung with those fiery Serpents, but the Brazen Serpent.
III. The Serpent of Brass was to be lifted upon a Pole.
IV. After many People died that were stung, the Brazen Serpent was appointed to be lifted up, as an Ordinance of healing.
V. A Serpent wounded, and a Serpent healed. The first that wounded had Poison in him; but the second, tho called a Serpent, it was without Poison or Sting: it had the Similitude of a Serpent, but had no Venom.
VI. The Brazen Serpent was not forged by Man's Hand or Hammer, but in a Mould in the Fire.
VII. It was made of Brass and not of Gold; which Metal besides that it is of a fiery Colour, and so might resemble the colour of the Serpent, it's also strong and durable. Is my Strength (saith Job) the Strength of Stones, or, is my Flesh of Brass?
VIII. They that looked up unto the Brazen Serpent tho never so greivously wounded or stung, yet were healed and saved from Death.
IX. They who looked upon their Sores to and grievous Wounds, and not the sign that was erected by God's Appointment, died, notwithstanding the Serpent of Brass.
X. If they sought to Chirurgeans or Physicians, or used any Salves or Medicines of their own, or others, yet they perished.
XI. The Brazen-Serpent was an unlikely thing or way to Human Reason, to heal such deadly Wounds.
XII. He that had a weak Eye or Eyes, and yet look'd up to the Brazen-Serpent, was cured.
XIII. It was a wonderful means of Cure, and undeservedly appointed by God, of his meer Pity, against the Merit of those Murmurers.
Parallel.
SInners are stung with Sin,Rom. 3.13. See more where Sin is compared to a Serpent. that is like the sting of a Serpent; The poison of Asps is under their tongue. Sin wounds the Soul; My Wounds stink, and are corrupt.
II. So neither the Law nor Levite, nor any Creature could cure Mankind, nor redeem them from the sting of Sin and Death but only Jesus Christ.
III. So Christ was lifted up upon the Cross,Joh. 12.34. and is lifted up in the Ministry of the Word, and the Ordinances of the Gospel, and thereby in the hearts of Believers.
IV. So after Mankind sinned, and was brought under Death, Christ came by the appointment of God to dy and be crucified, or lifted up upon the Cross, to heal and recover us of our Wounds.
V. So (saith Mr. Guild) as the first Adam lost Mankind,Meses unvailed p. 85. the second Adam redeemed Mankind. The first had Sin and venomous Poison in him by means of his harkening to the old Serpent;Heb. 7 26, 27. the second, tho called a Sinner, and made to bear our Sins,A…nsw. and had the Similitude of of a sinful Man, but yet without Sin.
VI. So Christ was not begotten by Man,Guild. but conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin.
VII. So was Christ sent not with outward Glory or worldly pompous Shew, but mean and humble in outward Appearance; Brass being strong, &c. in this respect, it might figure out the Strength of Christ,Ainswer. who is able by the power of the Godhead to endure and overcome all his Tribulations.
VIII. So they who look up to Christ by a true Faith, tho never such great Sinners, shall be healed and saved from eternal Death. By recovery of natural Life… in the Israelites, was figured Eternal Life by Christ.
IX. So they who are bitten and grievously wounded with Sin, if they fix their Eyes thereon and grieve and mourn in the sight of it, and do not look unto Christ by believing, they despair and dy eternally, notwithstanding the blessed Saviour.
X. So whosoever seek to any for help but Christ, or endeavour by their own Works, or Reformation of Life, to have Peace with God; or trust to, and rely upon the bare Mercy of God, considering his Justice; and do not come to Jesus Christ, and look up to him as crucified, to satisfy for their Sins, are like to perish for ever. Let the Men that talk of the Light within look to this.
XI. So Christ crucified is to the Jews, and many others in the World, an unlikely way to save Mens Souls:1 Cor. 1.22, 23. We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a Stumbling-Block, and to the Greeks Foolishness; but unto them that are called, Christ the Power of God, &c.
XII. So he that hath but a weak Faith, yet looks up unto Christ, shall be saved. We read of three Degrees of Faith in the Gospel, and yet the weakest obtained Help and Cure from Christ. First, one comes to him, and saith,Mark 5.28 If I can but touch the Hem of his Garment, I shall be whole. The second saith, Lord, if thou wilt, Luk. 5.12.thou canst make me whole. The third said, If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, Mark 9.22and help us. One would think the last had no Faith at all, it seemed so weak, he questioned the Power of Christ. A weak Faith, if true, will justify and save the Soul, as well as a strong Faith.
XIII. So is the Death of Christ to sinful and rebellious Mankind, an admirable Work of unmerited Mercy, infinitely above what we deserved; it was not only above, but against our Merits: God so loved the World, &c. Behold, Job. 3.16. 1 Joh. 3.1.what manner of Love is this! &c.
Type.
THe Brazen Serpent cured only the Wounds of the Body, and saved thereby only from Temporal Death.
II. The Brazen-Serpent retained not always its Virtue to cure; also it was not to be worshipped, it was gross Idolatry so to do; and when in the days of Hezekiah it came to be that way abused,1 King. 18.4. it was destroyed, and broken in pieces.
Disparity.
CHrist cures all the Diseases and Wounds of the Soul, and thereby saves from Eternal Death. See Physician.
II. Christ, the Anti-type of the Brazen-Serpent, retains the like Virtue and Efficacy to save that ever he had, ought to be worshipped, is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever.Heb. 13.8.
Inferences.
THis shews not only the Necessity of a Saviour, but also of Faith in him. None were healed, but those that look'd up to the Brazen Serpent; so no Man shall be saved, but he that looks up by Faith to Jesus Christ.
1. Look up timely.
2. Look up daily, for Sin daily wounds thee.
3. Look up with a fixed or single Eye.