Question for Christians & those who know: what does the symbol of the snake and the cross mean?

Christ is the snake who died on the cross

it means deception

This may sound facetious, but it is absolutely correct. The snake is the embodiment of sin originating in the Garden. Christ BECAME sin for our sakes. When the Israelites were suffering from snake bites in the wilderness, all they had to do was to gaze at the snake on the cross and they were healed. So it is for us too.

Not actually a xtian symbol.

[link to en.wikipedia.org]

Greek. Symbol of Mercury. Born by heralds in general.

Comparative religion is fun.

It's reference of John 3:14,

The Luciferians and Occultists love twisting up Scripture to pervert it. Making symbols from their perversion of Scriptures, Ect.

See: rainbow for gay pride.

The New International Version Bible mixing, the morning star, and the son of the morning, Ect.

It might be another meaning, or the original, but in the bible Moses put a snake on a staff and the people looked to it to be cured. It ties together Old and New Testament as Jesus died on the cross for our sins and healing.

^^^ this^^^^

Wandering Israelites grumbled and complained against God. God sent snakes to bite and kill many of them. Moses prayed to God for help. God told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Numbers 21:4-9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and LIVE.

About 1450 years later we learn from Jesus Christ that He was the fulfillment of that strange story. He said:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal LIFE.” John 3:15

The snake represented sin. The snake on the pole represented Christ on the cross. Jesus Christ BECAME OUR SIN. 2 Cor. 5:21 Our sin was put to DEATH on the cross. Jesus Christ literally paid for OUR SIN with His own flesh and blood.

Jesus mentioned the ‘snake on the pole’ story just before He uttered the most famous verse in the Bible:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal LIFE.” John 3:16

When we have faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross paying for our sin we are assured of eternal life with Him. By His stripes we are healed! Isaiah 53:5

[link to www.jesuschrist.com]

A snake on a stick is a symbol in many ancient religions. However, most of these ancient religions were wiped out by the religion that won, and their symbols were co-opted. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are a mash of a dozen religions in that part of the world.

Learn to history!

This. I've seen depictions of Moses holding that snake and cross symbol. One painting in particular was really bad ass looking. I wish I could find it again.

Sigh.

While the comparison of the event with Moses is what Jesus used in John 3:14, it is NOT proper to put a snake on a cross to use as a symbol. It's a double meaning, purposefully designed.

It was a symbol snake on a staff or pole, not a cross.
Num 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass, if a serpent had bitten any man, and he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

It was a foreshadow.

Just like Israel for 40 years camped in the shape of a cross:
[link to ldolphin.org]

Loads of fore shadowings in the Old Testament.

Most of Israel did not figure it out though.