The Mysteries of the Bronze Serpent

In this sermon, Charles Spurgeon uses the Old Testament story of Moses lifting up a bronze serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21) to explain how sinners are saved by looking to Jesus Christ on the cross. Just as the Israelites were dying from poisonous snake bites and could only be healed by looking at the bronze serpent that Moses lifted up on a pole, Spurgeon explains that all people are spiritually dying because of sin and can only be saved by believing in (looking to) Jesus Christ who was lifted up on the cross. He emphasizes that salvation is incredibly simple—it's not about having great knowledge, doing good works, or being worthy, but simply looking in faith to Christ crucified, just as the dying Israelites only needed to look at the serpent to live. Spurgeon concludes by urging his listeners not to delay, not to trust in anything else, but to look to Jesus now, promising that "whosoever" believes in Him—no matter how great their sins—will not perish but have eternal life.Sermon delivered on September 27, 1857.