There are a great many animals mentioned in the Bible. Some of them are ascribed mighty traits, such as the lion, the creature used to describe Jesus' regal qualities. Others are more unsavory, such as the dog, who is said to return to his own vomit, representing a fool returning to his sin. And who could forget the lamb? Another animal Jesus loves to ascribe to Himself, as it is slain for the sins of the guilty.
But there is one animal that is often ascribed more to Satan than to Christ, but nevertheless fits Christ in an excellent way. While we often think of the snake as being a symbol of evil, and to this day the fear and dread of it falls over many people, the snake is actually just one more animal made by God. Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us that every work of the Lord is perfect, and so even the snake, though corrupted by the fall, is no more evil than any other animal. But it goes even further than that. An often overlooked account tells of a very interesting encounter Israel had with some snakes while they wondered the desert (Numbers 21:4-9).
Disgruntled by their time spent wandering, the people began to shout at Moses "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." (The very bread provided by God Himself). So God got a little bit cross and sent some snakes, and they bit the people, and the people repented. So, God gave them a remedy. God told Moses to make a serpent out of bronze and set it on a pole. Everyone who merely looked at the serpent was healed.
There are several parallels between this story and the Gospel. Israel rebelled against God, just as all men rebel against God. Israel loathed the bread given to them by God, just as men loath God's word. God sent some serpents to show them their need of repentance, just as God sent Jesus to preach that all must repent (and neither message is particularly pleasant to those who hear it). But most of all, the very snake that caused all that pain is the very thing that cured it. In John 3:14-15, we are told "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." Thus, the ultimate link between Christ and the snake is that the snake was what's called a "type" of Christ.
Typology is an interesting concept in the Bible. The idea is that there are a number of precursors to the Gospel in the Old Testament. Similar to prophecy, but a little less "in your face". It would be less obvious if not pointed out. Nevertheless, the fact that the New Testament does point it out shows that it's not as crackpot as most Bible Code conspiracies. Indeed, typology is entirely legitimate, and is an excellent evidence that Christianity is true. How else would we find the very Gospel woven into the fabric of a then 1,400 year old historical account?
It is my hope and prayer that anyone who is not yet saved who finds this article will be convinced to look upon the bronze serpent that is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, thus being saved from your sin and inheriting eternal life. But if I have failed, it is my hope that this will at least pique your interest and encourage you to dig deeper.