Jesus Gives a Wilderness Comparison

John 3:1-21

The Big Idea

Jesus taught that people can receive eternal life by believing in him. His comparison helped Nicodemus understand an important spiritual truth.

The Bible Story

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

In John 3:14-15, Jesus compares the lifting up of the Son of Man with Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness. He uses this comparison while teaching Nicodemus about belief and eternal life. The wilderness and Moses belong only to the comparison here; this passage does not retell that wilderness episode. The focus remains on Jesus’ teaching: those who believe in him may have eternal life. This conversation is part of Jesus’ nighttime teaching about being born again, the Spirit, God’s love for the world, salvation, judgment, light, and darkness. The passage presents belief as important in receiving life, while also contrasting belief with unbelief. Explain the comparison carefully and simply, without adding details about the serpent or describing physical suffering.

Themes

Being born again Faith in the Son of Man God’s love for the world Light and darkness Salvation and judgment The work of the Spirit Truth and evil

Bible moment

The Bible moment

Look closely

What children can notice

Jesus refers to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness as a comparison while teaching Nicodemus about belief and eternal life. The serpent may appear only as a small, non-graphic referenced symbol rather than a retold wilderness event.

Talk together

Talk about it

What comparison did Jesus give Nicodemus?
What did Jesus say believers may receive?

For families, church, and class

Use this page

Use this page for a quiet Bible lesson on John 3:14-15 within the larger conversation in John 3:1-21. Invite children to notice that Jesus used a familiar comparison to teach about belief and eternal life. Keep the serpent reference brief, non-graphic, and clearly separate from retelling the wilderness episode. This material is especially suitable for older children, Sunday school, family reading, classrooms, or homeschool discussion.

Source note