John 3:14-21 - For God So Loved the World (4th Sunday of Lent, March 15, 2015)

Gospel:

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who
does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Gospel Trivia:

Nicodemus appears only in the gospel of John.  He is a Pharisee who favors Jesus, and it is ironic that Jesus chooses a Pharisee who is not talked about kindly by the other gospel writers.  To Nicodemus, Jesus states what may be considered as the summary of the gospel of John, if not of the whole Christianity:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (John 3:16).

It means:

1. God takes the initiative in loving us
2. His purpose is not to judge or condemn but to lead us to eternal life.

3. His love is for the world, which refers to all of humanity. It also implies that the world is good, but humanity can choose evil based on freedom.

The "world" refers to all that there is, especially humanity, God's crowning glory of creation.  Thus, John 3:16 can be paraphrased to mean: God loves humanity so much that God gives everything that God has (his Son Jesus).  

The "lifting up of the Son of Man" mentioned in the gospel passage refers to the "continuous" upward motion of the cross being lifted up (Jesus' death), his Resurrection, and Ascension.  

The love of God involves the giving of everything (Jesus himself) which overcomes death, and reunites us with the Father.

This is the first time in John's gospel that the words "eternal life" is used; it is important to know what John meant by it.  It means BOTH a "life without end" at the end time, AND also to a life with a special quality at the present time.  This special quality refers to a life that is love-centered, forgiveness-oriented and peace-filled.  It is a life based on faith in Jesus and governed by the principles of Jesus' life and teachings.

Reference:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Manila: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), pp. 51-56.