Moses' Serpent and the Cross: Facing Evil to Find Healing

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives explores an idea he traces to Jordan Peterson’s Old Testament lectures: the brass serpent Moses lifted in the wilderness and Christ’s comparison of himself to that serpent (John 3:14). Eicher unpacks how facing evil — behold the serpent — becomes a means of healing, drawing parallels between medical inoculation, Amish Rumspringa practices, and Christian doctrine.The episode examines biblical texts including the Exodus serpent story, John 3, and Isaiah 53, and discusses themes such as sin, suffering, sacrifice, and atonement. Eicher argues that Jesus doesn’t become evil but becomes to look like the sinner so that those who behold him and his blood can receive grace and life. Expect theological reflection on confronting personal depravity, critiques of purely naturalistic explanations, and practical implications for faith and repentance.