Look With Faith - Helaman 8:13-17

... Moses ... had such great power given unto him [that] he hath spoken concerning the coming of the Messiah. Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come. And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal. And now behold, Moses did not only testify of these things, but also all the holy prophets, from his days even to the days of Abraham. Yea, and behold, Abraham saw of his coming, and was filled with gladness and did rejoice.

I have written of this before - that all prophets, including Moses prophesied of the Messiah. In the instance mentioned here, Israel was plagued with "fiery serpents" and many who were bitten were dying. Moses was commanded to fashion a fiery serpent made of brass to a pole and raise it up. Those who would look upon the pole did not die of the venom of the serpents. (Numbers 21:6-9)

Moses' healing staff which he lifted up for the children of Israel to look upon, was in similitude to Jesus Christ being lifted up on the cross. In the act of being lifted up, Jesus became the object to be looked upon for healing; and being in that position, He is able to draw all who look upon Him in faith unto healing and eternal life:

And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil— (3 Nephi 27:14)

He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. (2 Nephi 26:20)

... it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him. (2 Nephi 9:5)

In essence, He said to men: Go ahead, have your turn first, and then I'll have mine. And when it was men's turn, they hated Him and all of his creations and killed Him. They caused war, slavery and insurrection - in His name no less! And then He says - now it's my turn, and he quietly walks into a garden at midnight, with no pomp, no fanfare and no malice, rather with love - and saves them. It is done meekly, and quietly, and yet the act is so enormous that it blows the chains and gates of hell clean off, and continues to ripple through time.

Beauty for ashes.