John 3:14-21
The Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Today, we delve into a profound passage from the Gospel of John 3:14-21. Here, Jesus engages in a deep and transformative conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. This dialogue unfolds the mystery of God’s love and salvation, a theme that resonates through the ages and speaks directly to the heart of our faith.

The Heart of the Gospel

Jesus begins by drawing a parallel between the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses in the wilderness and His own impending crucifixion. “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him” (John 3:14-15). This comparison lays the foundation for understanding the depth of God’s plan for humanity’s redemption.

• The Bronze Serpent: A symbol of God’s provision for healing and salvation in the midst of judgment. It required the Israelites to look upward, in faith, to be saved.
• The Crucifixion of Christ: Jesus, lifted up on the cross, becomes the ultimate manifestation of God’s love—a focal point for all to look upon in faith, to receive not just healing, but eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This verse, perhaps the most quoted and beloved in the entire Bible, encapsulates the gospel message. It reveals the heart of God: a love so vast and deep that it transcends human understanding.

• God’s Love: Unconditional, sacrificial, and all-encompassing. It’s not based on our merit but on His grace.
• The Gift of the Son: Jesus is presented not just as a gift but as the ultimate expression of God’s love. Through Him, eternal life becomes accessible to all who believe.

The Light Has Come

Jesus goes on to explain the consequence of His coming into the world. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). This statement brings to light the inherent conflict between good and evil, light and darkness.

• The Light of Christ: Represents truth, purity, and life. Jesus’ presence illuminates the darkness, exposing sin and calling us into a relationship with God.
• Humanity’s Predicament: The inclination towards darkness. Jesus’ light reveals our flaws, our sins, and our need for a Savior.

The Path to Eternal Light

In these verses, Jesus outlines the path to salvation and the nature of true belief. It’s not merely an intellectual assent but a transformational faith that leads us from darkness to light.

1. Believe in the Son: To believe in Jesus means to trust in His sacrifice, to accept His lordship, and to follow Him. It’s a belief that transforms, leading to a new birth and a new life.
2. Step into the Light: Coming to the light involves openness and transparency before God. It’s an invitation to live truthfully, to forsake the deeds of darkness, and to embrace the ways of righteousness.
3. Live by the Truth: Those who live by the truth, Jesus says, come into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. This living by the truth is evidence of genuine faith, a life transformed by and aligned with the character of God.

Beloved, as we reflect on this passage, we are invited to look upon the Son of Man, lifted up for our sake. In Him, we see the fullness of God’s love, a love that dares to enter our darkness, to offer us light and life. Today, we are faced with the same choice presented to Nicodemus and to all who have heard the gospel message throughout the centuries.

• Will we remain in the shadows, clinging to our deeds of darkness, or will we step into the marvelous light of Christ?
• Will we look upon the lifted Savior, allowing His love to transform us, to guide us from death to life?

As we journey together in faith, let us choose the path of light. Let us believe in the name of the Son of God, embracing the life He offers. In doing so, we not only secure our eternal destiny but also begin to live out the kingdom values here and now—values of truth, love, and righteousness.

Let this passage remind us of the incredible love story written by God, a story in which we are invited to play a part. May we live as people of the light, bearing witness to the truth of the gospel, and reflecting the love of Christ to a world in need.