As James H. Charlesworth delves into the Gospel of John, he discovers a thought-provoking comparison between Jesus and the widely misunderstood serpent of Christian imagery. After thoroughly researching references to serpents in ancient sources such as religious texts, statuary, and jewelry, Charlesworth has come to an unexpected realization: the serpent was a prevalent and complex symbol, often associated with positive qualities such as healing and immortality. This groundbreaking book examines the serpent's significance from 40,000 BCE to modern times, across various regions of the world. Through this exploration, it sheds light on the biblical authors' use of symbols and challenges readers to reevaluate their own archetypal beliefs with a similarly creative approach.