Look and Live
You don’t have to climb your way to God or fix yourself first. Just look to Jesus — and live.
By Steve Wilkins
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
—John 3:14–15
In the wilderness, the Israelites were dying — bitten by serpents — as a consequence of their rebellion (Numbers 21:4-9). But God, in His mercy, provided a way of healing: a bronze serpent lifted high on a pole.
...And it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live. —Numbers 21:8
There was no ritual, no sacrifice, no work required. Just one thing: look — and live.
That moment in Israel’s history was more than a rescue; it was a foreshadowing. Jesus pointed back to it when He said,
Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
Just as the bronze serpent was raised for healing, Jesus would be lifted on the cross for our salvation.
And the invitation remains the same.
We don't need to work harder, clean ourselves up, or prove we’re worthy.
For God so loved the world, that He gave... —John 3:16
We need only to look to Jesus, believe, and live.
All Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), unless otherwise noted.
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