comparison of Numbers 21:7-9 & John 3:14,15
NUMBERS 21:7-9
Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "We have sinned, for we haven spoken against Jehovah and against you. Pray to him to take away the snakes." So Moses prayed for the people. So Moses made the replica, and whenever anyone who had been bitten looked at the bronze snake, he recovered!
Note: When the bronze snake was hung on the pole, the Israelites couldn't have understood the fuller meaning Jesus Christ would bring to this event (John 3:14,15). Jesus explained that just as the Israelites were healed of their sickness by looking at the snake on the pole, all believers today can be saved from the sickness of sin by looking to Jesus' death on the cross. It was not the snake that healed the people, but their belief that God could heal them. This belief was demonstrated by their obedience in following God's instructions (Hebrews 12:2).
Hebrews 12:2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and how he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.
ISRAELITES
Bitten by snakes
Little initial pain, then intense suffering
Physical death from snakes' poison
Bronze snake lifted up in the wilderness
Looking to the snake spared one's live
Reference: Life Application Bible, The Living Bible
JOHN 3:14,15
And as Moses in the wilderness lifted up the bronze image of a serpent on a pole, even so I must be lifted up upon a pole, so that anyone who believes in me will have eternal life.
Note: When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, God sent a plague of snakes to punish the people for their rebellious attitudes. Those doomed to die from snakebites could be cured by obeying God's command to look up at the elevated bronze serpent and believing that God would heal them if they did (Numbers 21:7-9). Looking to Jesus for our salvation happens the same way. You will be saved from sin's deadly "bite" by looking to Jesus and believing he will save you.
CHRISTIANS
Bitten by sin
Little initial pain, then intense suffering
Spiritual death from sin's poison
Christ lifted up on the cross
Looking to Christ saves from eternal death