John 3:1-21 | What's the connection?

Jesus is making a very important connection in this passage that explains it very well. Unfortunately, in most of the teachings I have heard on John 3, it is rarely addressed that Jesus is talking about an event that happened in Numbers 21. It is disappointing to me how often I have heard John 3:16 quoted out of context. Allow me to explain.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
-John 3:16

The "For God so loved..." portion of this text does not mean that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son. Rather, it means, "in like manner". While the crucifixion is most definitely the supreme example of God's love toward us, I want to make sure that we maintain being good bible students when we recognize this reality. Because what should happen when we read John 3:16 is that our minds should recall what Jesus is actually speaking about. Just before giving that famed statement, Jesus says this.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
-John 3:14-15

What He is referring to is an event in the Torah. Let's read it from Numbers 21.

4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against 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.” 6 So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
-Numbers 21:4-9

Jesus is actually saying that in the same way that God loved Israel that He would condemn the thing that is killing them and set them free, so the same He would do for the world. It is with this in mind that we get John 3:16. Jesus is highlighting something so much more than just His love. He is showing that He would become a curse for the world that anyone who would look upon Him would be saved. But then those who are in darkness shy away from His light. Sin bears its own condemnation and the condemnation is just. Jesus came to give life. And this message is clearly portrayed in the love of God.