(Gospel verses at the end of Commentary)
Observation:
The gospel passage follows the earlier conversation of Jesus with Nicodemus (3:1-15). In that conversation, Jesus speaks of “being born from above” in order to “see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus is a Pharisee and is supposed to be a teacher of the law, and yet has so many questions directed to Jesus. This implies that Jesus’ teachings strike him as something radical compared to what he has learned.
(By the way, the expression “don’t be like Nicodemus” is sometimes used to refer to community teachers who are supposed to know what they teach by heart, and to live it out through example; and yet do not. In John 3:10, Jesus asks Nicodemus: “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?”)
Interpretation:
The passage begins with “for God so loved the world, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” Many commentators refer to this as the summary of John’s gospel:
- God takes the initiative in loving us
- His purpose is not to judge or condemn but to lead us to eternal life.
- 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.
There is so much meaning in just these five passages, but I’d like to focus on the meaning of “eternal life.” We associate “eternal life” with life after this life, or with the divine life after the “end of the world.” While the Synoptic gospels use this phrase to refer to its eschatological meaning (“eschatological” means referring to the end times), John uses the term with a different meaning.
For John, the “adjective eternal does not mean ‘everlasting’ in the sense that this divine life will have no end (although this nuance is certainly included in the basic meaning), but rather in the sense that this life will have a special quality, which is the quality of the divine life itself (i.e. love-centered, incorruptible, and peace-filled).” (Hunger No More, p. 53)
For John, it is possible to get a “glimpse” or a “fragment” of this eternal life in this present life, and this is when love and mercy prevails over hatred and injustice. We get a “fragment” of eternal life when we see a shepherd go to extraordinary efforts to help one of his or her lambs who is deeply troubled, when one sacrifices convenience for principle, or when one chooses the Christian option despite its unpopularity. We get a “glimpse” of eternal life in a community that cares for one of its members (as in the Madrigal tragedy) to such an extent that other people marvel and are affected by that love.
The gospel also makes it clear that we have a choice. Do we want a life without meaning or purpose, or a life lived to the full? The latter is God’s purpose for us. But we can choose to believe or not to believe, to have light or hide in darkness.
Generalization:
God’s love requires a conscious response. Ignoring it is already a choice against it. “Whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (3:18) Our response requires we live a life that provides “fragments” and “glimpses” of the “eternal life” God has meant for us.
Application:
In my work with streetchildren, I came across a story by a friend who invited a four streetchildren to become “resource speakers” to a class of seminarians. The seminarians asked them several questions about life in the streets: how they get food, where they sleep, and what do they do the rest of the day. After the session, my friend was given P400 for inviting and arranging the presence of the streetchildren
My friend handed the P400 to the children, thinking that they would likely save the money for food for the next few days. He followed them walk over to a nearby Dunkin Doughnuts shop, where they bought P400 worth of doughnuts. They called all their fellow streetchildren who were nearby; about fifteen of them. They laid down all the boxes of doughnuts on the streets, and shared all the food.
Right there and then, my friend said, he saw a glimpse of the heavenly banquet. It is where there is no one hungry because all share what they have.
Discussion Questions:
1. What recent events have you come across that represent a glimpse or fragment of “eternal life?”
2. What situations in your job, family, or community life can become a glimpse or fragment of “eternal life?”
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John 3:16-21
16 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.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
18 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.
19 And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.
21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
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