Fourth Sunday Of Lent
JOHN 3:14-21 (2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23; Psalm 137:1-6; Ephesians 4:2-10)
This Sunday’s gospel reading follows a dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus. The latter was an important man in the Jewish establishment in Jerusalem. He was a member of the Sanhedrin. He was intrigued enough by Jesus’ words and actions to approach him. However, he came to Jesus at night to avoid being seen by his colleagues who did not see Jesus in a positive light.
Nicodemus became more courageous later on, when he defended Jesus before his colleagues in the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the highest governing body among the Jews, both in religious matters and in civic matters insofar as the Roman occupation forces permitted. The dialogue be-tween Jesus and Nicodemus has turned into a monologue on the part of Jesus.
The gospel reading opens with this interesting statement: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up….” The “serpent in the wilderness” refers to an incident described in Numbers 21:4-9. After leaving Egypt, the Israelites set out for the Red Sea. They became impatient and spoke against God and against Moses. Apparently the Lord had all he could take of their grumbling and rebellion and “sent fiery serpents among the people.” Many were bitten and died. They underwent a quick change of attitude, admitted their sin, and asked Moses to pray for them. The Lord told Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it up on a pole. All those who were bitten, when they looked up at the bronze serpent, were healed.
Centuries later, about 50 B.C., the Book of Wisdom 16:5-6 interprets the bronze serpent as a symbol of the Torah (the teaching of Moses), “They received a symbol of deliverance to remind them of the commandment of your Law (Torah). Whoever turned to it was saved….” In chapter one, John’s gospel already proclaimed Jesus the ultimate Torah or revelation. Therefore John can now write, “…so must the Son of Man (Jesus) be lifted up, that whoever believes in him will have eternal life.” The other three gospels speak of Jesus being put to death on the cross. John uses a different expression, “lifted up.” John uses this expression three times to describe Jesus crucifixion, 3:14; 8:28; 12:32-34. In the last of these three references John makes it quite clear what he means by “lifted up,” When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself. He said this to show by what death he was to die.” Just as the afflicted Israelites were healed when they looked upon the bronze serpent on the pole, so all people who look up at Jesus on the cross, in the sense of believing in his saving death, are healed and saved.
The next statement in today’s gospel is a famous quote, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Many are familiar with this quote, if not the words, then the reference. “John 3:16” is seen on posters at athletic events. In the context in which it occurs in John’s gospel, it explains the previous statement, “…whoever believes in him has eternal life.” It gives the reason why faith in Jesus gives eternal life – because God willed it so. His will was demonstrated by sending his Son to do the work of salvation for the whole world. The Son, the Word, is sent into the world to do his Father’s will, “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” This statement attributed to Jesus has important Old Testament background in Isaiah 55:10-11. The Lord compares his Word to the rain that comes down from heaven, enables crops to grow and feed people. Then we read, “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me empty…” Therefore the last words of Jesus on the cross in John’s gospel, “It is accomplished.”
The next statement is another attempt to explain more fully why “whoever believes in him will have eternal life.” “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” The “world” in this instance refers to all humankind. A clearer expression of this teaching, “…God our Savior…wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” 1 Timothy 2:4. Thus John and 1Timothy both affirm God’s will for universal salvation. John already did the same in 1:12, “…but to all who received him he gave the power to become children of God….” These clear affirmations strongly contradict the bizarre teaching by some Christian denominations that God created some people for salva-tion and others for damnation. Even Thomas Jefferson, who was no friend of revealed religion, said that to believe that God created some people for damnation is the worst idea any religion ever produced.
So we must ask, “Will all be saved?’ John answers in today’s gospel reading. “Those who believe in him are not condemned. Those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” What does this mean?
Condemnation does not come from God but from self. Salvation is out there, like the internet, but it has to be tapped into by faith. Faith is a gift from God. Since the Scriptures assert that God wills all to be saved, we must also believe that God gives the necessary means to bring that about. God respects the freedom of the human will so profoundly, that the grace which leads to faith in the One lifted up on the cross, can be freely accepted or freely rejected. John notes the necessity of believing “in the Name of the only Son of God.” What is that Name? The divine Name! “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM!”
