This week's gospel includes, probably the best known Bible verse to Christians and non-Christians every where: John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
We often forget the context in which the author of the gospel of John gives us this verse. The respected Jewish leader, Nicodemus, comes to Jesus by night to learn what he must do to have eternal life. This week's lesson follows the account of Jesus telling him he must be born again, or anew - the Greek word means both.
As we take stock of ourselves and what, or who, God calls us to be, The Rev. Rick Morley reminds us that the covenant God has with us is that he will always love us, and that part of what we have to do is believe in his Son, who is lifted up. See "Lifted High."
Alyce M. McKenzie asks us: "Who are you when no one's looking?" and "Are you a master of light or shadow?" in "Walking in the Light, Reflections on John 3:14-21."
Finally, Paul Tillich tells us just who Jesus is, drawing on the "I am" sayings found in John's gospel. Jesus is the Truth. See Tillich's The Shaking of the Foundations, Chapter 14. "Doing the Truth."
In Lent, we take the time and opportunity to seek out the darkness in our lives, and open up to the light which God gives us - Jesus. This week, more than any other this season, we are to focus on Jesus, and Jesus alone. He is God's saving grace, and righteousness in person. If we believe in Him, and believe Him, and God's love for us, and all things God has planned for us, his beloved, will be added. As Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians, we are saved by God's loving grace, and not by any works of our own, so that no one may boast.
The focus then is not on us, but on Jesus, the Way, The Truth, and the Life.
No comments:
Post a Comment