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Reflection for Chukat

“Lifted Up to Save!”

John 3:9-21; 4:3-30; 12:27-50

excerpted from TorahScope Apostolic Scriptures Reflections

Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1) is noted for detailing the purification rites of the red heifer,[1] the death of Miriam,[2] Moses striking the rock twice over the water shortage,[3] the death of Aaron and the succession of the high priesthood to Eleazar,[4] and various encounters with the Edomites, Canaanites, and Amorites as Israel sojourned through the desert.[5] The one consistent theme seen in this week’s parashah, seems to be best evidenced in the attitude of the “Exodus generation” of Israelites. They demonstrated a persistent problem of complaining about nearly every inconvenience which came their way. We see in our reading how the lack of delectable food and a shortage of water, once again elicited grumblings against God and Moses. The Lord actually sent deadly snakes to judge the offenders—and once again the people pleaded with Moses to intercede before Him for deliverance:

“The people spoke against God and against Moses: ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!’ The LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died. The people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.’ Moses prayed for the people. The LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived” (Numbers 21:5-9, WMB).

The method for Israel’s salvation is not like when incense was dispersed throughout the camp (Numbers 16:42), but rather a seemingly strange manner with the fashioning of a bronze serpent. The Israelites who had been bit by the poisonous snakes, would have only needed to look at this object, in order to be healed. In later Israelite history, this brazen serpent became somewhat of an idol, surviving until the time of King Hezekiah of the Southern Kingdom. It had to be destroyed, as people were worshipping it, by burning incense to it in the courtyard of the Temple:

“Now in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places, broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because in those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that after him was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him” (2 Kings 18:1-5, WMB).

The bronze serpent healing which took place in the Torah, must have continued to have some kind of significance for later generations, as Yeshua the Messiah used it to refer to His own work of salvation. In this familiar passage from John 3, Yeshua was confronted by the Pharisee Nicodemus in the dark of night, with some rather imploring questions:

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Judeans. He came to Yeshua by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.’ Yeshua answered him, ‘Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ Yeshua answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t marvel that I said to you, “You must be born anew.” The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus answered him, ‘How can these things be?’ Yeshua answered him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God’” (John 3:1-21, WMB).

John 3:1-21 is one of the most well known salvation passages in the Apostolic Scriptures: a conversation and teaching encounter which took place between Yeshua and Nicodemus. As the interaction transpired, it was clear how Nicodemus was definitely curious about this teacher sent from God, but seemed to be rather confounded about the concept He referred to of being born again or born anew. Despite years of studying and teaching and dialoguing and debating with others—Nicodemus could easily understand what Yeshua was speaking of in terms of being born again.

It has long been recognized in Biblical Studies that being “born again” or “born from above” was used in Second Temple Judaism to describe proselytes. The Talmud records, “R. Yosé says, ‘A proselyte at the moment of conversion is like a new-born baby’” (b.Yevamot 48b).[6] Yeshua the Messiah simply took the terminology “born again,” and rather than apply it to proselytes to Judaism—applied it to His followers. Unless all of His followers experienced a personal transformation—which was only available in Him as Son of God—they could not hope to enter into the Kingdom.

It would have been very necessary for the teacher Nicodemus to make an effort to understand the deep, spiritual dynamic of what Yeshua had labeled as being “born again.” The fact that Nicodemus had to visit Yeshua secretly in the dark of night alone, demonstrated how he had various spiritual inabilities which needed to be overcome. Yeshua was there to truly help Nicodemus understand realities of the supernatural (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16; Isaiah 40:13).

Perhaps the most widely quoted Bible verse (other than Genesis 1:1), appears within the dialogue between Yeshua and Nicodemus. John 3:16 occurs immediately after John 3:14-15, where Yeshua asserted that by believing in Him lifted up like the bronze serpent—people can have eternal life:

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-16, WMB).

Only at a later date would Nicodemus, and anyone else who heard this teaching, be able to put all of the Messiah’s sayings together—realizing that He was lifted up before people to save them from their sins. Thankfully, it is indeed recorded how Nicodemus recognized Yeshua as Redeemer. Following His execution, he donated a costly mixture of myrrh and aloe in preparation for His burial:

“Nicodemus, who at first came to Yeshua by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds” (John 19:39, WMB).

It took time for an inquisitive, and no doubt knowledgeable teacher like Nicodemus, to fully realize that Yeshua was the Messiah. For those studying and reviewing these Scriptures today, we should definitely be reminded of the significant importance of being born again. Being born again is something which comes only by being supernaturally regenerated by the power of God, and literally becoming a new man or woman in Him. It does not matter if you have the entire Bible memorized and can teach about it with eloquence and insight. The critical thing, is that you have appropriated the finished work of Yeshua the Messiah in being lifted up from your sins!

When each of us receives a heart and mind which have been transformed, filled with the Spirit of God—we have a new, supernatural capacity to understand things which we may not have previously understood. If you had read the Bible before, the significance and meaning of various passages will often take on new dimensions for you. The theme of being “lifted up” like the bronze serpent, was one which Yeshua used to speak to His Disciples and followers about His death.

In John 12 as His arrest and execution were imminent, we see Yeshua struggling through how He knew He would be tried and humiliated. As He was praying to His Father, a voice thundered from Heaven in assurance that what He would endure must occur. The purpose for Yeshua being lifted up—which should remind us of the bronze serpent—is so that all people can be drawn to Him. Sadly, we also read how various political and spiritual leaders acknowledged the Messiah, but refused to do so publicly:

“‘Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? “Father, save me from this time”? But I came to this time for this cause. Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came out of the sky, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.’ Therefore the multitude who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Yeshua answered, ‘This voice hasn’t come for my sake, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die. The multitude answered him, ‘We have heard out of the law that the Messiah remains forever. How do you say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this Son of Man?’ Yeshua therefore said to them, ‘Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.’ Yeshua said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them. But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? [Isaiah 53:1]’ For this cause they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again: ‘He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them’ [Isaiah 6:10]. Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him. Nevertheless, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue, for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise. Yeshua cried out and said, ‘Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. He who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness. If anyone listens to my sayings and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke will judge him in the last day. For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak’” (John 12:27-50, WMB).

It is most sad, either in the First Century or today, when people are known to be Believers in Yeshua the Messiah, and do not publicly confess it. While it is true that some people unwisely force their religious or spiritual views on others without discernment, it is also true in how the Lord is most clear to say: “Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32, WMB; Luke 12:9). Were various First Century Jews finally forced out of secrecy to publicly confess Yeshua as Savior? Today in the Messianic movement, we often hear things about hundreds of Orthodox Jewish rabbis in Israel, who have apparently come to believe that Yeshua is the Messiah. But we do not know who they are. Is the information really true (and not an urban legend), or do such individuals fear reprisals and what following the Messiah might cost them? Thankfully, only the Lord Himself gets to determine the final destiny of any person who claims to know Him.

I hope and pray that we are all reminded of how believing in Messiah Yeshua—and recognizing who He is to others—are both required for a person to be designated as “born again.” Of course, it is very true that if you do this that you will have to pay a price. Some of you will only be socially ridiculed for your faith. Others of you may have to endure various degrees of exclusion of ostracism. As the Apostle Peter detailed,

“Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled’ [Isaiah 8:12-13]. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Messiah. For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil. Because Messiah also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:13-18, WMB).

A few Messiah followers may actually have to die for the faith. But if one has genuinely experienced the salvation of Yeshua—there can be no greater duty than being a martyr for Him (cf. Revelation 2:10; 6:9-10)!

In response to how He was lifted up to atone for our transgressions and sins—always lift up the Messiah Yeshua in your praises and adorations! Make sure to speak of and to demonstrate forth His goodness to others!