Message: “Like the Serpent on the Bronze Pole (John 3:11-17)” from Dr. David Carey Dixon

A message from the series "Sunday Service." A lot of people are enamored of the new series about the life of Jesus called “The Chosen.” Its very human presentation of Jesus and His disciples, with its creative script, has a lot to recommend it. One episode from the first season focused on the story of Nicodemus (Jn. 3), with its opening scene about Moses at the moment when he was making the bronze serpent to be placed on a pole. Its purpose was so that any Israelite bitten by one of the desert serpents could be healed and not die; but Moses’ assistant Joshua is presented as a bit skeptical because he doesn’t understand or see the reasoning behind what Moses is doing. Later the episode introduces Nicodemus, filling in the portrait with imaginative details. It’s the conversation when he hears those now famous words about his need to be born again, and Nicodemus struggles to understand how he can possibly start over and make such a new beginning when he has accumulated so many years and “baggage.” Later according to the biblical text of John 3, Jesus makes the comparison between the serpent that Moses lifted up in the desert (Num. 21) and His own being “lifted up” on behalf of our salvation. In the message today we want to explore just what Jesus was referring to and what the connection is between that snake on the pole and Jesus’ spiritual battle at the cross.

Dr. David Carey Dixon - February 4, 2024

Say to My Soul, 'I Am Your Salvation' (1 John 5:9-12, Acts 4:12)"

In Ps. 35 David is facing a raging enemy, so he speaks vividly of his weapons and their usefulness. But he knows that victory is not ultimately in his hands; he depends on Someone much higher. So he asks the Lord, “Say to my soul, I am your salvation!” Remind me again and again: that true salvation comes from beyond myself! Make me understand this: that the battle is much more than this visible struggle, that You are the only source of true salvation! Actually we’re all hungry for salvation, though most people today don’t often relate to that term. Our “hunger” is more focused on our multiple and hyper-stimulated appetites – we think “heaven” is whatever satisfies those! We’re especially hungry for our primal needs to be met: for recognition, acceptance, fulfillment, security and love; our ambition to achieve something significant, be somebody, project a positive image; or just to repeat the thrill of an adrenalin rush (from gaming, other diversions, an exciting challenge). But “salvation” seems to speak of dire situations and crises that don’t normally happen to you in everyday life: maybe when you lose your job, have an accident, fall prey to a scam, develop a serious illness, or need a residence permit or work permit; think how desperate refugees in Spain are for some “salvation” these days! Or maybe it’s your marriage that needs saving (the stories are heartbreaking!). But soul salvation – who thinks in those terms?

Scripture References: 1 John 5:9-12

Related Topics: 1 John 5;9-12, Salvation, Soul | More Messages from Dr. David Carey Dixon | Download Audio

From Series: "Translations"

Sermons with manuscripts translations to other language.

Sermon Manuscript     Manuscrito del Sermón

More From "Translations"

Powered by Series Engine