Everything old is made new again. John’s gospel is so moving and memorable because so much of it takes First Testament images of creation, salvation, and redemption and refreshes them with the new story, the new images, of Jesus Christ. In this week’s text the Genesis story of creation finds new life, new hope, and new direction in the powerful words of the gospel writer. The first of God’s creative words, “Let there be light,” becomes the new watch word for a new way of determining the future of the faithful in a redeemed world.

But first John’s text reaches back into Hebrew history and recalls a strange image from Israel’s wilderness wanderings. Jesus’ words describe the time when the Israelites were being bitten by poisonous, or “fiery,” snakes as punishment for their grumblings against …