Sermons Volume 6 Sermon 14 John 3:14
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'And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and much people of Israel died.' Num xxi. 5, 6. In the midst of this calamity, they confess their sin, bewail their condition, and entreat Moses to intercede for them. Similar to this is the situation of an awakened sinner, under the accusations of a guilty conscience, when the terrors of the Almighty set themselves in array against him. He cannot support himself under his load, much less remove it; his wounds stink and are corrupt, but he is a stranger to the true method of healing. He can neither satisfy the claims of the law, nor endure its penalties. He would do something, but he knows not what. He is taken in a snare: and by striving to break it, he only entangles himself the more. Being wounded and poisoned by sin, whose sting is worse than that of the adder, he must inevitably die, if a sovereign remedy be not speedily applied. The sickness is unto death, and no human, hand can heal. ...
For 'it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.' This speedy and effective cure was a lively emblem of the effects arising from faith in Christ. Though from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet there is no soundness in us, and nothing but wounds and bruises and putrifying sores, yet one look to Jesus, accompanied with a look from him, will correct every vicious humour, and spread life and health and vigour throughout the whole man, let the disease be ever so inveterate, an immediate check will be given to its progress, and a foundation laid for its entire removal.
… while the glorious antitype is infinitely superior to the type, there is at the same time a considerable resemblance between them. The poor as well as the rich might look to the brazen serpent and be healed, and it cost them nothing; and in the same way the most miserable sinner may look to Jesus, however contemptible he may appear in the eyes of the world, or however destitute himself of any recommendatory qualifications. Amongst those who viewed the emblem in the wilderness, some might be situated in the extremities of the camp, so that they had only a distant view of the object. Others had their eyes nearly closed in the shades of death, when the disease had arrived at its latest stages. Some, being once healed, were probably wounded afresh with fiery serpents; and by looking again to the serpent on the pole, were once more healed.
All this was emblematical of our moral sickness, and of the means by which the cure is to be effected. The sinner, however enfeebled or diseased, however distressed by the malignity or prevalence of his corruptions may still obtain a speedy and effectual cure, if the eye of faith be but directed to the Saviour.
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The serpent was erected only in the wilderness; there only are we liable to be stung and there it is the remedy is provided. If we carry the moral disease with us out of this world, it will not be healed in the next. There he that is unjust 'will be unjust still, and he that is filthy will be filth's, still. There is no physician for lost souls on the other side the grave, nor any deliverance there. Eccles ix:10, Rev xxii.11.
1. How strange is it, that amongst the thousands and tens of thousands who are envenomed by him, so many should be utterly insensible of their disease: and while labouring under the symptoms of eternal death, should still appear to be unconcerned. Every pious mind pities them, but they have no pity for themselves. This can arise only from the nature of the disease, which throws them into a deep sleep, from which nothing but the voice of the Son of God can effectually awaken them.
2. It is equally surprising, that many who appear to be sensible of their danger, should nevertheless be found to neglect the only remedy; a remedy which so demonstrates the riches of divine grace, and is so evidently calculated for our advantage. …
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