God Loved
John 3:14-21
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text for this morning is one of the most popular quoted texts in the bible. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This passage is one of the purest expressions of the Gospel, but it also expresses the Law. John 3:15 simply expresses the good news without the judgment of those who do not believe perishing. But since verse 15 is connected with Moses lifting up the serpent in the desert it implies that all the people are already under judgment.
Moses made the bronze serpent and lifted it up in the desert, because people were being bitten by fiery snakes. These snakes were killing people. Similarly the snake in the garden of Eden, which deceived Eve and all creation was thrown into suffering and death. Moses is instructed to make a bronze Serpent and lift it up on a pole, so that everyone who beholds the lifted up serpent would be healed.
Numbers 21:9 says, "So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live."
Jesus drives this connection home, by connecting this serpent to the lifting up of the Son of Man upon the cross. He follows it up by stating who-so-ever looks at, or believes, in the Son of Man who is lifted up will be healed, saved, or forgiven. Further then Jesus says, this is not just any Son of Man, this is the Son of God who was sent by the Father to be lifted up. This even pulls in the more famous account of the Old Testament in Genesis 22, when Abraham was called to Sacrifice his only Son. Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”
Furthermore, Jesus takes note of the Law or condemnation that can be seen in John 3:16. And clearly says in verse 18, "whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." John 3:17 tells us, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." The purpose of the giving of the Son of God was not to bring forth judgment, or condemnation. All of creation already stands condemned on account of the deception of the ancient Serpent, or original sin. The purpose of the giving of the Son of God was to deliver all of Creation from the condemnation of sin.
The Ancient Serpent tricked Adam and Eve into disobedience and sin. Therefore, Eve, the mother of all the living, her offspring would be struck down, die, and lifted up for the purpose of restoring all that was lost by the disobedience, original sin.
Thus, it almost seems like Jesus continues to have to clarify what he is trying to say in John 3:16, so that it will not be mis-understood. But we continue to teach, memorize, and proclaim John 3:16 to the World without any further explanation.
It is nice to see on television the random sign that people hold up that says, Merry Christmas, or John 3:16. But how often do we really make the connection about what that really means. We have finally made it to the Christmas Season. We continue to celebration the Feast of Christmas with the World.
This is a time when we remember the greatest gift that one could possibly give. We can remember the gift Abraham was willing to give God, by taking his Son up the mountain. We can remember the gift Hannah gave with her First born Son Samuel.
We can remember the gift of the ram caught in the thicket, given for Isaac. There is also the gift of the redemption price of the lambs blood so that death would pass over. The serpent that was lifted up in the desert. Then there is the child who was given by a loving Father to redeem his people. The gift of a man who was willing to lay down his life for another. The gift of the Spirit to shatter hardened hearts, and call people to believe in Jesus Christ.
God loved his beloved creation so much, that he sent forth at the proper time his Word, his Son, to take on flesh. The Son of the Living God is our brother of whom John the Baptist said behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The one named Ἰησοῦς was given to save all people from sin. He is the anointed one of God for the task of the raising and claiming for God a holy people.
This is the Love of God, that even while we were yet enemies, already standing in a state of condemnation, God sent forth his Son to die for you. He therefore gives you eternal life.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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