Thursday 01 March 2012

Background

This passage is a continuation of the conversation withNicodemus (begun yesterday). The words are attributed to Jesus,and reflect the theology of the Johannine Christian Community (iethe first recipients of John's Gospel). What were they saying? Itis helpful to go from verse 11 to 21:

• Verse 11 - We speak of what we have seen (see 1 John1:1).
• Verse 13 - "No one has ascended into heaven except the one whodescended from heaven, the Son of Man".
• Verse 14 - Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in thewilderness so is the Son of Man lifted up.
• Verse 15 - Whoever believes in Jesus may have eternallife.
• Verse 16 - "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may haveeternal life".
• Verse 17 - God did not send his Son to condemn the world, butto save it through him.
• Verse 18 - "Those who believe in him are not condemned".
• Verse 18 - Those who do not believe in him are condemned(because they have not believed in the name of the Son ofGod).
• Verse 19 - The light has come into the world, but people lovedarkness.

The words are addressed to all those whom Nicodemusrepresents, but also to the wider Jewish community, the Samaritans(John 4) and the Greeks (John12:20-22) who all represent the world in which Jesus andhis community is set. They state God's purpose: "God so loved theworld ..."

To Ponder

How would you illustrate the point that God lovesthe world?

How would you explain the concept of eternallife, without using religious language?