The Bronze Serpent Riddle

This account is spoken of in 4 places in the Bible (5 if you include the Apocrypha). 

Numbers 21:4-9

Living life with discontentment and complaining is a dangerous and dishonorable way to live.  God was providing for His people but many responded with no faith and no gratitude.  Here is a bad progression:  God provides, it is not what we expect/want, we don’t trust God and respond in disobedience.  Instead, now faced with God’s greatest Gift, the life of His Son, we respond with faith and gratitude.   

Why set up a bronze figure?… sounds idolatrous.

Why a serpent?… sounds devilish.

Many commentators have many explanations, some deep and some shallow.  Perhaps the simplest and greatest answer is… Jesus.  The OT account leaves us scratching our heads until we see Jesus.   Just as Jesus used the Bronze Serpent account to help Nicodemus rightly see Jesus, we can now rightly understand the Bronze Serpent account in light of Jesus. When Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, He referenced the story of the Bronze Serpent to illustrate His own purpose and mission. In the same way that looking at the Bronze Serpent brought healing to the Israelites, looking to Jesus in faith brings salvation.

This parallel allows us to see that the Old Testament story was not just about a physical object or a moment in history; it pointed forward to a greater reality fulfilled in Christ. The Bronze Serpent was a symbol that found its true meaning in Jesus. Our understanding of the account is deepened and clarified when we view it through the lens of Christ’s work and sacrifice.

 

2 Kings 18:3-5 

Why was this Bronze Serpent still around?  Why did it have a name and why were they burning incense to it?

Just as young girls often transform ordinary objects into things to nurture and care for, and young boys frequently repurpose anything into imaginative weapons, people demonstrate a remarkable ability to assign unfitting meaning and purpose to almost anything; AKA we are good at making idols.  In superstition and misplaced trust, we can elevate everyday items or concepts into objects of focus, reverence, or significance far beyond their appropriate value or purpose.  Nehushtan is a good example:

 

 

Similarly, the Cross or Crucifix can also become an idol.  One might say, “that is impossible, it is the Cross of Christ.”  No, it is a piece of metal made into the image of a cross which for some is a reminder or symbol but for others it can become a type of talisman.  What makes the difference?  Where is our affection and where is our trust??  Hollywood is the creator of divine relics, not God. 

Yet even Hollywood acknowledged that Indiana Jones’ discovery of the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail did not lead him or others to eternal life.  This truth points us to a greater reality: eternal life is not possessed through objects, relics, or symbols, no matter how significant they may seem.  Eternal life is found exclusively in Jesus Christ. It is not a treasure reserved for a select few who possess or discover holy relics; rather, it is a gift freely offered and accessible to all people. Salvation and true life come by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone in Christ alone.

 

John 3:12-21

Jesus begins to move Nicodemus from his earthly need to the heavenly answer. Up to this point, Jesus has been speaking about the necessity of the new birth, using earthly illustrations such as birth, water, and wind.  Now He turns Nicodemus’ eyes to the One who alone can speak with authority concerning heavenly things: Himself. Nicodemus had come to Jesus saying, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God” (John 3:2). But Jesus is far more than a teacher with a message from heaven. He is the One who came down from heaven. He is not merely the messenger; He is the message. He is not simply one who has received a gift from God; He is both the Giver and the Gift.

If the Numbers 21 account had been written by human wisdom, perhaps the command would have been to craft a bronze cup filled with anti-venom.  In the Old Testament, the venomous snakes served as instruments of Divine Judgment, while the Bronze Serpent became the means of salvation for the Israelites. This dual role echoes the nature of Jesus, who is both Judge and Savior. For some, Christ brings the "savor of death unto death." For others, He is the Giver bringing "life to life" (2 Cor 2:16). 

 

(Apocrypha: Wisdom of Solomon 16)

⁵ For when the terrible rage of wild animals came upon your people
and they were being destroyed by the bites of writhing serpents,
your wrath did not continue to the end;
⁶ they were troubled for a little while as a warning
and received a symbol of deliverance to remind them of your law’s command.

⁷ For the one who turned toward it was saved not by the thing that was beheld
but by you, the Savior of all. 

 

1 Corinthians 10:9-12 

What does Paul mean “put Christ to the test”?  Israel put God to the test by not trusting in His provision.  Nicodemus and us as well, can only “stand” by the Grace of God.  All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God; at our best, all of our righteousness is like filthy rags.  The wages of this sin is death, but the Free Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. 

V. 13:

Christ did not need to ascend in order to learn heavenly truth, because heaven is His proper home. He came down from heaven in the incarnation, taking upon Himself human flesh, so that He might reveal the Father and accomplish salvation for man. This is why Jesus can speak so plainly and so authoritatively to Nicodemus. He is not guessing about heavenly things. He is not repeating secondhand knowledge. He is revealing what He knows perfectly, because He is the eternal Son who came from the Father.

This ascending and descending language reminds us of 3 other passages:  Proverbs 30:4, Eph 4:8-10 and Rom 10:5-11.  

Proverbs 30:4: “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?... what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” Nicodemus should have known that no mere man could answer that question. Who can gather the wind in His fists? Who can bind the waters in a garment? Who has established the ends of the earth? The answer is God alone. And yet here, standing before Nicodemus in the night, is the answer to that ancient question. What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? We know His name. His name is Jesus. He is the Son of Man who came down from heaven, and He is the Son of God who reveals the Father.

Paul speaks the same truth in Ephesians 4:8-10, saying that the One who ascended is the same One who first descended. Christ came down to us in humility, and then ascended on high in victory, “that he might fill all things.” We must submit ourselves to the righteousness of God in Him.   “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).  Imagine those who were bit by venomous snakes, struggling to survive by their own means:  In desperation, they might tourniquet, cut and suck, they might gasp and writhe but all they needed to do was “look and live”.  

Romans 10:1-11  We are reminded that salvation is not found by man climbing up to heaven to bring Christ down, nor by descending into the deep to bring Christ up from the dead. God has already done what man could never do. Christ has come down. Christ has died. Christ has risen. The word of faith is now near: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9).  This is the way of New Birth, this is the way of Salvation. 

 

Jesus has told Nicodemus that he must be born again, and now He begins to show him how that new birth is made possible. It will not come through the wisdom of a Pharisee, the works of the law, or the efforts of man to climb his way up to God. It has come through the Son of Man who came down from heaven and would soon be lifted up before men. Nicodemus needed to see Jesus as more than a miracle-working teacher. He needed to see Him as the heavenly Son, the descended Savior, the lifted-up Redeemer, and the only Way by which dead sinners are made alive.

The simplicity of the Gospel is here revealed: “look and live”.  “Look” encapsulates two things: faith to initiate the look and repentance as we physically (spiritually) change the direction of our focus.  To look is to believe God enough to turn from every false hope and fix our eyes with faith upon Christ.  The “live” part of the equation belongs to God and don’t worry “He who promised is Faithful” (1 Cor 1:9; 10:13; 2 Tim 2:13; Heb 10:23; 1 Thes 5:24; 2 Thes 3:3). 

 

If it is so easy, and so wonderful, why doesn’t everyone “look and live”?  Good question.  Ray Comfort does a good job of parsing out people’s hesitancy to faith because of its necessary proximity to repentance by saying, ““The more a nation gets into darkness, the more it’s going to hate the light. The more it’s going to run from the light. And we have a generation of people who have given themselves to darkness, and they’ve embraced atheism, because it gets them away from moral responsibility to God.”   If we admit that there is a supreme being, we suddenly become accountable to Him.  If we are consciously answerable to this God then our conscience condemns us and we have to deal with this very uncomfortable thing called Conviction.  So, while God gives Light to everyone coming into the World, not everyone accepts His Gift. 

 

Closing:

The old bronze serpent could not save in itself. Nehushtan could not save. Religion could not save Nicodemus. And nothing we can hold in our hand, hang around our neck, place in a church, or accomplish in our own strength can save us either. The answer is Christ, lifted up.

This is the simplicity and the glory of the Gospel: look and live. The bitten Israelite did not have to crawl to Moses, understand the chemical nature of the venom, or explain the mystery of the bronze serpent. He simply had to believe God’s word enough to look where God had provided life.  Jesus takes that wilderness scene and says, “That was pointing to Me.”

Jesus is still drawing sinners to Himself today. He said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32) and “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).  The crucified Christ is God’s answer lifted up before a dying world.  There is not one remedy for Nicodemus and another for the woman at the well. There is not one way for the Jew, another for the Gentile (whether Muslim, Hindu or Humanist). There is one lifted-up Christ, one saving Gospel, one very gracious invitation: whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

 

Digging Deeper:

The medical symbol of snake.

Two commonly confused symbols are the Caduceus, which features two snakes and wings, and the Staff of Asclepius, which has one snake and no wings.   Either way, the medical snake-and-staff symbol is not Christian-based in origin; it comes from pagan Greek symbolism connected to healing. However, in ordinary modern use, it usually functions as a secular medical symbol, not necessarily an occult symbol.  Historically, it is pagan in origin; practically, it is now a medical emblem; spiritually, the Christian should remember that healing belongs to God, not to the symbol.

V. 16 “the World” and “whosoever”:

This fits with the wider testimony of Scripture. God is not presented as One who delights in the destruction of sinners, but as One who loves and calls sinners to repentance. “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). Peter says the Lord is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Ezekiel records the heart of God when He says, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezek 33:11).  Jesus Himself cried out, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37).  These are not cold or insincere words. They reveal the true heart of God toward sinners.

Isaiah 45:22 - “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
Isaiah 55:1 - “Ho, every one that thirsts, come ye to the waters…”
Isaiah 55:6-7 - “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way…”
Matthew 11:28 - “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 23:37 - “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered thy children together… and ye would not!”
Luke 19:10 - “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

John 1:29 - “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

John 6:40 - “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life…”

John 12:32 - “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Acts 17:30 - “But now commands all men every where to repent.”

Romans 10:12-13 - “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

1 Timothy 4:10  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Titus 2:11 - “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”

Hebrews 2:9 - “…that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

1 John 2:2 - “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Revelation 22:17 - “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

The Testimony of Scripture is clear, God has so loved the World…

“ A Ruler once came to Jesus by Night”

John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…”.  Before we ever examine Nicodemus coming to Jesus, we must first recognize the unseen but certain reality behind the scene: God was drawing him. The Father was working in his heart through the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus did not simply wake up one evening with spiritual curiosity on his own. God was moving in his heart. The questions, the restlessness, the interest in Jesus, and eventually the courage to identify with Christ all point to the gracious drawing work of God. Throughout The Gospel of John, God reveals that Nicodemus’ journey to sincere and life-changing faith was progressive.  Consider the disciples, the Samaritan woman (John 4), the blind man (John 9), and doubting Thomas (John 20:28); all grew in faith and understanding.

In John 3, at the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we see Nicodemus interested but confused. In John 7 we see conviction beginning to form, though still restrained by caution. However, by John 19, standing near the cross of Christ, we find a man willing to openly identify himself with Jesus. At first, he was interested; by the cross he was invested. This pattern of progressive faith is not only central to the Gospel of John, but should also be recognized in our own lives. Sometimes spiritual growth is steady; other times it seems slow and uncertain. There are seasons when we walk courageously with Christ and seasons where grief, fear, disappointment, suffering, or confusion may cause us to hesitate once again. Yet through all of it, God remains faithful. The same God who drew Nicodemus, continued working in his life, and He will continue His good work in ours as well (Phil 1:6), exchanging confusion for conviction and caution for courage.

Nicodemus himself is a fascinating figure. John tells us there “was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews” (John 3:1).  Nicodemus was a Pharisee, part of the strictest religious group among the Jews. The Pharisees were known for their careful observance of the Law and traditions. They were respected as religious authorities and often held positions of influence and wealth. Jesus would later rebuke many of them for hypocrisy (Matt 23:13), yet they were not careless or unconcerned about religion. Nicodemus was additionally called “a ruler of the Jews,” likely meaning he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council in Jerusalem. Jesus later refers to him as “the teacher of Israel” (John 3:10), suggesting Nicodemus was not merely a teacher, but a highly respected master teacher among the Jews. He was educated, influential, moral, religious, and likely wealthy. Yet despite all of those outward advantages, something was still missing. Nicodemus knew many things, but he did not yet truly know Jesus Christ.

Curious and Confused

Nicodemus is only mentioned in the Gospel of John and each time God highlights that he first came “by night” (John 3:2; 7:50; 19:39). While there may have been practical reasons for this, John likely intends us to see more. Throughout John’s Gospel, darkness often symbolizes spiritual uncertainty, hesitation, or fear. Nicodemus was moving toward the Light, but he was not yet ready to fully step into it. There was caution in him, perhaps even fear. Jesus had already stirred strong reactions among the people. Some believed Him, some questioned Him, and others increasingly hated Him. To publicly identify with Jesus could bring serious consequences (John 7:13; 9:22; 12:42-43); yet Nicodemus still came.  Many others rejected Christ entirely, but Nicodemus came asking questions. God often begins His work in a heart through honest inquiry and searching. There are many people who first come to Christ carrying uncertainty, wounds, confusion, fear, and certainly incomplete understanding. Yet God can use these things to draw us nearer to Himself.

When Nicodemus approaches Jesus, he says, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God” (John 3:2). Nicodemus already recognized something extraordinary about Jesus. However, knowing about Jesus is not the same thing as truly knowing Him. Many people possess religious knowledge without possessing spiritual life. The Pharisees knew scripture, traditions, and theology, yet Jesus repeatedly confronted their hearts. James says, “the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19). Mere knowledge is not enough. Nicodemus needed more than additional information; he needed transformation. Therefore, Jesus immediately directs the conversation to Nicodemus’ deepest need, saying, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

This statement must have been startling to Nicodemus. As a Pharisee, he likely viewed himself as spiritually privileged because of his heritage, knowledge, and obedience. Yet Jesus tells him that natural birth, religious pedigree, and outward morality are insufficient. Nicodemus needed a new birth altogether. Jesus was directing him away from confidence in the flesh and toward complete dependence upon God. This theme is found throughout scripture. Man in his flesh cannot produce righteousness acceptable to God (Isa 64:6; Ps 14:1-3; Job 15:14-16). Nicodemus needed what every person needs: not self-improvement, but regeneration. Jesus was essentially telling him, “You cannot do this yourself. You must be born again.”

Nicodemus struggles to understand this, asking, “How can a man be born when he is old?” (John 3:4). Like many of us, he initially interprets spiritual truth through earthly thinking. Yet Jesus patiently continues teaching him. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6).  Just as Adam’s descendants experience hunger, thirst and the 5 senses, those born of the Spirit experience God’s nature.  Born in the Spirit we will be drawn to forgiveness, drawn to generosity, mercy and patience (things that are not fleshly natural).  Just as children bear the image and nature of their earthly parents, those born of God are spiritually transformed by His Spirit. John had already written earlier in this Gospel that the children of God are born “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13). This new birth is the gracious work of God in the life of the believer.

Jesus then compares the Spirit’s work to the wind: “The wind blows where it wishes… so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). We cannot see the wind itself, but we see its effects. Likewise, the Spirit of God invisibly moves upon hearts, bringing conviction, life, understanding, and transformation. The Spirit’s work is often mysterious to us, but not random.

There is also something deeply symbolic about the entire setting of this meeting. Nicodemus came at night, moving through darkness toward the Light of the World (John 1:4-9; 3:19-21). One can almost picture the quietness of the evening, perhaps even the movement of the night wind as Jesus speaks the words, “The wind blows where it wishes…” (John 3:8). The same word can carry the idea of wind, breath, or spirit. This brings to mind the vision of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14, where God commanded breath to enter the dead so that they might live again. Israel had become like a valley of dead bones: religious outwardly, but spiritually lifeless. In many ways Nicodemus stood there as a representative of that very condition. Though highly educated, moral, religious, and respected, he still needed life from God. Jesus was not merely giving Nicodemus additional information; He was breathing before him the very promise of new life. Just as God breathed into Adam the breath of life (Gen 2:7), and just as the breath entered the dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision (Eze 37), so Christ was speaking life into the soul of Nicodemus. The wind of God’s Spirit was beginning to blow through the darkness.

God was already moving in Nicodemus long before Nicodemus fully understood what was happening. The same remains true today. Many believers can look back and recognize that God was drawing them long before they consciously understood the fullness of the Gospel. Through circumstances, questions, convictions, disappointments, sermons, scripture, or even painful trials, God was already at work.

Convicted but Cautious

By the time we arrive at John 7:40-53, Nicodemus has progressed in faith. The man who once came privately at night now cautiously speaks in defense of Jesus before the Pharisees. When the rulers condemn Christ, Nicodemus asks, “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” (John 7:51). His faith is growing and conviction is beginning to overcome fear. This is often how spiritual growth works in our lives as well. Sometimes growth comes in bold leaps, but often it develops gradually. There are seasons where we know Christ is working in us, yet fear still competes with faith. Even sincere believers can struggle with hesitation, especially after painful experiences, disappointments, or seasons of confusion. Spiritual growth is rarely a perfectly straight line. Yet God remains faithful through every stage.

Confession with Courage

Finally, in John 19:38-42, we see Nicodemus openly identifying himself with Christ after the crucifixion. Together with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus helps prepare the body of Jesus for burial (John 19:38-42). This act carried tremendous risk. Jesus had just been crucified publicly as a criminal, and yet Nicodemus now openly associates himself with Him. The man who once came secretly at night now stands openly near the cross. This was genuine faith growing into courageous confession.  Beautifully, Nicodemus’ faith has matured to a place where he is now actively caring for the Body of Christ.  May God make it so for each of us as well.

The story of Nicodemus reminds us that spiritual growth is often progressive. Some people are presently in John 3: curious, searching, confused, and full of questions. Others may be in John 7: convicted inwardly, yet still struggling with fear or hesitation. Others, by God’s grace, may be experiencing moments like John 19, openly confessing Christ regardless of cost. Yet in every stage, the central truth remains the same: God is faithful to continue drawing His people to Christ. Nicodemus’ story is ultimately not about the strength of Nicodemus, but about the faithfulness of God. The Father was drawing him. The Spirit was teaching him. Christ was patiently leading him. And the same God who patiently drew Nicodemus is still at work in our lives today.

 

Digging Deeper (Supplemental Study)

“Ye Must Be Born Again”

Jesus redirects Nicodemus from pedigree to regeneration.  Additionally, consider that this concept of New Birth should have been well known by a teacher of the OT. 

• Ezekiel 36:25-27 & 37:1-14
• Deuteronomy 30:6
• Jeremiah 24:7; 31:33
• Psalm 51:10–11
• Also consider the accounts of Noah and Jonah

• James 1:18 “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.”
• 1 Peter 1:3 God “hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
• 1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again… by the word of God.”
• John 5:24-25 The dead hear the voice of the Son of God, “and they that hear shall live.”
• Ephesians 2:1-5 We were dead in sins, “but God… hath quickened us together with Christ.”
• 1 John 2:29  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
• 1 John 3:9-10  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  (10)  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

The Wind and the Spirit

Jesus compares the Spirit’s work to the wind:  invisible, powerful, sovereign, life-giving.  Here again the Greek word πνεῦμα (pneuma) is important. It can mean wind, breath, or Spirit. Jesus is using the natural movement of the wind to help explain the supernatural work of the Spirit.

The point is not that the Spirit is random or confused. The point is that the Spirit is sovereign and mysterious to us. We cannot control Him, schedule Him, bottle Him, or reduce Him to a religious formula. Yet His work is real and evident. You may not see the wind itself, but you see what the wind does. In the same way, you may not see the Spirit with your physical eyes, but you can see His effects in a changed life.

Ecclesiastes 11:5, Ezekiel 37, Acts 2:2,

Job 33:4  The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Jesus was breathing life into spiritually dead people just as God breathed life into dry bones.

Fear of Man vs Fear of God

Nicodemus likely struggled with fear early on.

Proverbs 29:25  The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

Luke 12:4-5  “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.  (5)  But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

Hebrews 13:5-6  Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (6)  So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Matthew 10:32-33  So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,  (33)  but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Fear makes strings out of our spines, slush out of our purposes, and a mirage out of our hopes.

“Seeing” and “Entering” the Kingdom of God:

When Jesus first speaks to Nicodemus, He says, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Then just a few verses later He says, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Now, some may say there is no real difference between seeing and entering, and certainly these two thoughts are closely connected. But I do not believe the Holy Spirit wastes words. There is something powerful here. A man must first have spiritual life before he can have spiritual sight. Until a man is born again, he may see religion, ceremonies, buildings, miracles, morality, and teachers, but he cannot truly see the kingdom of God. But Jesus does not stop with seeing. He presses further into entering. The kingdom is not merely something to admire from the outside. It is something into which a man must be born by the Spirit of God.

And once we begin to think biblically, we find that Scripture often distinguishes between being born into the family and receiving the fullness of inheritance. A child is born by grace, but inheritance may be connected with faithfulness. Reuben was still Jacob’s son, but he lost the birthright (1 Chr 5:1). Esau was still Isaac’s son, but he despised his birthright and afterward found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears (Heb 12:16-17). Moses was certainly God’s servant, yet because of unbelief and anger, he was allowed to see the land but not enter it (Deut 34:4). Paul was not afraid of losing Christ, but he did discipline himself lest, after preaching to others, he himself should be disapproved for the prize (1 Cor 9:27). The prodigal son was still a son, loved by the father and welcomed home by grace, but he had wasted his substance (Luke 15:13).  The “nations of them which are saved” walk in the light of the City, yet it is the Kings that enter into it.  These are not pictures of salvation by works but examples of laying up (or not) treasures in Heaven. They are warnings that grace should not be wasted, inheritance should not be despised, and those who are born into the household of God should desire to walk as faithful sons.

True godliness expresses itself through wisdom, compassion, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, and especially kindness. I want to focus in a little more on kindness today: why? … Proverbs 31 does not merely describe a capable woman; it describes a woman whose life reflects the character of God Himself.  Caution: do not look at this woman the way the world looks at a model in a magazine. The world uses push-up, brush-up, touch-up, and make-up to create an artificial image that often leaves other women feeling insecure and inadequate.  Remember in the Garden of Eden it was God that “fashioned” the first woman and it is still God that “fashions” His daughters into “pillars for His Palace” (Ps 144:12).  Let God do the fashioning.  Let Him stir your heart with His Word and Holy Spirit, like a potter, gently changing you by His own plan and power over time.  And 2 Cautions for the Men: 1^st don’t be hard to love; be supportive of your wife being virtuous; 2^nd what is good for the goose… is also good for the gander. 

Proverbs 31:10-31 The Character Qualities of the Virtuous Woman

V.10  Her worth is 1^st set by God and then appreciated by others.

 

V.11  She is trustworthy and reliable. 

 

V.12  She is consistently good and beneficial.  Her life blesses rather than harms those around her.

 

V.13  She is diligent and willing to work.   She serves joyfully rather than grudgingly.

 

V.14  She is thoughtful and resourceful.

 

V.15  She is sacrificial and disciplined.

 

V.16  She is wise and discerning in decision-making.

 

V.17  She is spiritually, mentally and possibly physically strong.

 

V.18  She is confident but also attentive and watchful.

 

V.19  She is productive.

 

V.20  Her kindness extends beyond her own home.

 

V.21  She is prepared.

 

V.22  She pursues dignity rather than vanity or immodesty.

 

V.23  Her life strengthens and supports her husband.

 

V.24  Her productivity extends beyond her home.

 

V.25  She is clothed with lasting Godly strength and dignity.

 

V.26  ….we will come back to this one.

 

V.27  She is not lazy or careless.

 

V.28  Those closest to her, love her the most. 

 

V.29-31  She excels in godly character and her life bears visible fruit worthy of public praise and recognition.

 

 

Proverbs 31:26  She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law (H8451)(ESV says “teaching”) of kindness (H2617).

H8451  תּוֹרָה  to-raw'  tôrâh, a precept or statute , 219 X in the OT

H2617 חֵסֵד chêsêd  kindness; piety; reproof, or (subjectively) beauty 

This verse is remarkable because it joins together two things that are often separated: truth and tenderness. Biblical kindness is not weakness; it is wisdom governed by grace.  The phrase “law of kindness” is especially powerful.

She does not show kindness occasionally, but that “the law/teaching of kindness” governs her tongue. Kindness is not accidental for her; it is purposeful and habitual.  In many ways, this connects beautifully with Deuteronomy, where so many of God’s commands reveal not cold legalism, but the heart of a gracious and compassionate God teaching His people how to live toward one another.  Throughout much of Deuteronomy, the Law repeatedly taught kindness, mercy, patience, fairness, compassion toward the vulnerable, care for strangers, honesty in business, generosity toward the poor, and protection of the weak. Just as our mouths often reveal our hearts, God’s Law was revealing God’s heart. 

Proverbs 25:15 “With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.”

Gentleness is often stronger than force.   A harsh spirit hardens people.  A kind spirit can soften hearts.  Godly mothers know and are learning how to wield kindness.  A “soft tongue” does not necessarily mean compromise; it could be controlled strength.

Proverbs 11:17 “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.”

Kindness blesses homes, marriages, churches, friendships, and especially the one showing it.  On the other hand, cruelty damages everyone it touches, including the one dishing it out.  The tongue has enormous power.

Colossians 3:12–15   Christian Clothing; Paul describes virtues believers are to “put on.”

Compassionate hearts (tender mercies) : Feeling deeply for others.

 

Kindness: Active goodness toward people.

 

Humility: Selfless rather than Selfish

 

Meekness: Strength under control.

 

Patience (longsuffering): Longsuffering with imperfect people.

 

Bearing with one another: Making room for others’ weaknesses.

 

Forgiving each other: Releasing offenses rather than storing bitterness.

 

Love: The bond holding all the virtues together.

 

Peace: Allowing Christ to rule the heart instead of anger or anxiety.

The virtuous woman is not praised merely because she worked hard, managed a household, or stayed busy. She is praised because the fear of the Lord transformed her character. Out of that transformed heart flowed wisdom, compassion, strength, patience, and kindness. These godly characteristics then flowed outward to her husband, her children, and even her community.

Perhaps one of the clearest evidences of spiritual maturity is not simply what comes out of our hands, but what comes out of our mouths. Proverbs 31:26 reminds us that when God truly rules the heart, even the tongue begins to teach kindness.

And though this passage especially honors godly women and mothers today, these are not merely “motherly virtues”; they are Christlike virtues. Every believer should desire that same work of God within their own heart. But today we especially thank God for the mothers, grandmothers, wives, and faithful women whose words have strengthened homes, comforted hearts, taught truth, corrected gently, prayed faithfully, and reflected the kindness of God to those around them. Many of us are who we are today because God placed one of those women in our lives.

One Sign is Enough

John 2:18-25

V. 18    1 Corinthians 1:22-24 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,  (23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  (24)  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Numbers 14:11  And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

Psalm 78:11-22    It’s not just a Jewish thing…… it’s a youish thing too. 

Truly, this attitude and these words are those of the Devil who said “Turn these stones into bread” and “Throw Yourself down…” and to which Jesus responded, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” Matthew 4:6–7.  We do not want to share the Devil’s qualities and characteristics. 

John 2 is the 1^st of 5 clear occasions where the Jews seek signs

“What sign do you show us for doing these things?”  Jesus responds, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (pointing to His resurrection, one of the greatest signs).

2^nd: Matthew 12:38  (Harmony: Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16, 29)

“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”  Jesus responds:  “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign…” and gives them only the “sign of Jonah” (His death and resurrection)

3^rd: Matthew 16:1   (Harmony: Mark 8:11)

The Pharisees and Sadducees together tried to test Jesus, “They asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.”  Jesus responds: (2) “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’  (3)  And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.   (4)  An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”

4th:  John 6:30

After the miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fish they said, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you?”  Jesus again offers only Himself.  Interestingly, though indirectly, He is still pointing them towards the resurrection (Jesus rose from the dead on the Feast of First Fruits and during the Feast of Unleavened Bread).

5th:  Matthew 27:41–42  (Harmony: Mark 15:31–32)

Spoken during His Crucifixion, “Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.” These mockers lacked basic human compassion and morality. 

 

Luke 16:31 “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”  Which we know to be true, for they did not believe Moses and the Prophets who testified at length of His Resurrection, just as they did not believe when He actually did rise from the dead.  We can see a consistent biblical and historical pattern: God gives sufficient revelation, yet His people repeatedly demand additional signs on their own terms.  We do not need just a little bit more proof; instead, we need a whole lot more faith. 

How beautiful it is when we hear the Word of God and simply Believe. 

John 4:46-50  So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum, there was an official whose son was ill.  (47)  When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  (48)  So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”  (49)  The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  (50)  Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

John 20:29  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The problem is not insufficient evidence but rather any heart that says, “I will believe, but only on my terms; I will believe, when I say so” (sad, sad, sad).  Let’s be honest, God has given us more than enough to believe. 

Romans 10:17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

 

V. 19 Here is a very memorable statement that was used to accuse Him, mock Him and to believe in Him.

Note that it was officially these Jews that would later do just as Jesus had said, “Destroy this Temple”; further, it was regarding this statement that they accused Him (Matt 26:59-66; Mark 14:58-59;15:29-32).  But pay attention, Jesus did not say that He was going to destroy the temple but that they were.  However, Jesus did say that He would raise it up, and by this sign would declare Himself to be the Son of God (John 10:11-18; Rom 1:4; Matt 3:17; 17:5), answering their first question, “By what authority do you do this?”…….by the authority of God.

 

In John 2:19, Jesus makes a statement that would be remembered, misunderstood, weaponized, and ultimately vindicated: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” It is important to notice what He actually said and what He did not say. Jesus did not say that He would destroy the temple, but that they would. In that moment, He was exposing their future actions even as they stood there questioning His authority. They would reject Him, hand Him over, and cry out for His crucifixion. Yet in the same breath, Jesus declares His victory over their actions, saying, “and in three days I will raise it up.” John, by inspiration, makes it plain that Jesus was not speaking of the physical temple, but “the temple of His body” (John 2:21). The true dwelling place of God is not found in stacked stones and timbers, but in the ever-living person of Jesus Christ.

Now let the analogy run in reverse, so we can see the cross from another angle. Not many years after this, Jerusalem itself would be destroyed by the Romans, and the temple left in ruins, just as Jesus had said, not one stone was left upon another. That destruction was total, visible, and devastating.

Now consider Christ. If the temple’s destruction was so complete, how much more was His body marred on our behalf? Though not one bone was broken (John 19:36), His body was beaten, scourged, pierced, and marred beyond recognition (Isaiah 52:14). The physical temple fell under judgment, but Christ, the true Temple, willingly endured the full weight of sin and wrath in our place.

And yet here is the glory: the stones of that earthly temple were never raised again, but this Temple, His body, He raised up in three days. What Rome destroyed remained rubble, but what men did to Christ became the very means of redemption, because death could not hold Him.

 

When they demanded a sign, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” (John 2:18) Jesus gave them one, but not what they were expecting. He did not make a spectacle or offer immediate proof. Instead, He pointed to the ultimate sign: His death and resurrection. This aligns with His later words about the “sign of Jonah” and with the testimony of Romans 1:4, that He was “declared to be the Son of God… by His resurrection from the dead.” In essence, Jesus was answering their question about authority: His authority comes from God, and it would be undeniably demonstrated when He lays down His life and takes it up again (John 10:17-18). This was not the authority of a prophet or teacher, but the authority of the Son of God.

Tragically, they misunderstood Him whether out of blindness or willful unbelief and reduced His words to the physical temple, saying it had taken forty-six years to build (John 2:20). Later, this very statement was twisted and used against Him in false accusation (Matt. 26:59-61; Mark 14:58), and even hurled at Him in mockery as He hung on the cross (Mark 15:29-32). The irony is striking: they mocked the very sign that was about to prove Him right. What they intended for accusation and ridicule became the means by which His identity was confirmed. Only after the resurrection did the disciples fully understand “they remembered… and they believed” (John 2:22).

So where does that leave us? We may not be standing in a crowd asking for a sign, but how often do we live the same way: “Lord, I will trust You… if You show me this… if You fix that… if You answer in this way.” The issue has never been a lack of evidence; the issue is a heart that wants to believe on its own terms. Christ has already given the greatest sign in His death and resurrection. The call now is not to demand more, but to trust what He has already made clear. Faith does not wait for perfect circumstances but should rest in our risen Savior.

 

“Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.”  (A.W. Tozer)

 

Digging Deeper

V. 24-25

John 6:64-71 Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.  Jesus knows right now, do we?   John 21:17 Peter knew that Jesus knew all things

Was Jesus omnipresent in His earthly ministry (Phil 2:7)?

Already for thirty years Jesus had watched the inconsistencies of man, our hypocrisy, our deceitful and wicked heart.  He also knew the OT that testified not only of Judas’ betrayal but also of what was in man.

 

Pro 24:12  If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?

 Pro 5:21  For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths.

Jer 17:9-10  "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?  (10)  "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.

 

To Ephesus à(Rev 2:2)  'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;

To Smyrna à (Rev 2:9)  'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

To Pergamum à (Rev 2:13)  'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

To Thyatira à(Rev 2:19)  'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.

To Sardis à(Rev 3:1)  "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

To Philadelphia à(Rev 3:8)  'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

To Laodicea à(Rev 3:15)  'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.

Do not be deceived, Jesus knows us as well.  May we be found faithful to Him as those few in John 6 saying:  "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.  We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." (V. 68-69)

 

Is asking for a sign from God bad?

Sometimes this sign seeking does not always appear to be clearly bad:  Eliezer (Gen 24:12-14); Moses (Ex 4:1-9); Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:8-11); Isaiah (Isa 7:11); Zacharias (Luke 1:18-20; the Shepherds (Luke 2:12).  What makes the difference?... The Heart and whether we are asking in faith or in disbelief. 

 

Where they correct in their timeline of 46 years?   Yes, but still missing the point.

Solomon’s Temple: ~7 years (1 Kings 6)

Zerubbabel/Ezra’s Temple: ~20 years (with delays)

Herod’s remodel:  Main structure: ~1–2 years (Around 20 BC) but the full project took decades (approx. 46 years at John 2; history states renovations continued until about 63 AD; just 7 years before it would be destroyed).

 

V. 23-24: Concerning the use of the verb pisteou in V. 23 and 24 Vincent states: “He had no faith in their faith.” Does Jesus have faith in our faith? In V. 23 they came to know Him and have sufficient reason to have faith in Him.  Conversely, in V. 24, Jesus already knew them (man) and had sufficient reason not to have faith in them.