Jesus Lifted Up – Dwight Lyman Moody

During the American Civil War there was a man on one of the boat-loads of wounded from the field who was very low and in a kind of stupor. He was entirely unknown. Mr. Moody called him by different names, but could get no response. At last, at the name “William,” the man unclosed his eyes and looked up, and revived. He was asked if he was a Christian. He said, “No,” but manifested great anxiety upon the subject. I am so great a sinner that I can’t be a Christian.” Mr. Moody told him he would read what Christ said about that, so turning to St. John’s third chapter he read, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” etc. “Stop!” said the dying man; “read that over again, will you?” It was read again. Is that there?” “Yes,” said Mr. Moody; “that’s there just as I read it to you.” “And did Christ say that?” “Yes.” The man began repeating the words, settling back upon his pillow as he did so, with a strange, solemn look of peace on his face. He took no further notice of what was going on about him, but continued tour. touring the blessed words till Mr. Moody left him. The next morning when the soldier’s place was visited it was found empty. Mr. Moody asked if any one knew aught about him during the night. A nurse who had spent the hours with him till he died, replied, “All the time I was with him he was repeating something about Moses lifting up a serpent in the wilderness. I asked him if there was anything I could do for him, but he only answered, ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent.’ Just before he died, about midnight, I saw his lips moving, though there was no sound escaping. I thought he might have some dying message for home, so I asked him for one. But the only answer was the whispered words, ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him — ‘ and so on until his voice died away, and his lips moved no longer.

(D. L. Moody.)