Joh 3:16 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.
This by far is the most quoted and important vs in the entire bible but also butchered and abused many times. Grace is only amazing in the light of what makes it shine.
Had Jesus given Nicodemus Joh 3:16 before addressing Joh 3:14-15, it would have made no sense to him or appreciated it. The same way if a doctor gives a patient medicine without first letting him know his need for it, the patient will despise it. Num 21 brings to light how Israel spoke against God and Moses; they murmured and complained for not having water or food. They called the bread God provided worthless. It is at this point “… the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died” (Num 21:6). This was judgment to a disobedient people. “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.” (Num 21:7). There was no justifying of sins on their part, or even believing they were being punished unjustly. They saw judgment they deserved and in the midst of condemnation they reminded themselves of the mercies of God. Rom 5:20-21 “20 …where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”