The Israelites created the fiery serpents that were biting them through their negativity, lack of faith, and murmuring against God. Most of the time, we create our environment by our words, thoughts, and actions. It is important that they always be in harmony with God. Through the intercession of Moses, God provided the cure: anyone bitten by the snake was to gaze upon a bronze serpent on a pole. It sounds a bit like magic, but it seemed to work! The point is, when we raise our thoughts and words higher, our pain begins to disappear.

John's Gospel uses this story to portray Jesus. In the original Greek, the word for exaltation and for 'lifting up' are identical. Therefore, the crucifixion is both the lifting up and the exaltation of Jesus it is his glory. As with the bronze serpent, he would be the cure for what afflicts our souls and would provide life for those having faith in him. Not only that, after he was lifted up, people would see and believe that he truly came from God. When we set our eyes, minds, and hearts on Jesus, we begin to experience 'eternal life' - the sort of life we have in the presence of God. Faith in Jesus is the solution or cure for our pain, brokenness, and loneliness.