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"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
- John 3:16-21
Yesterday, we read that when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." My study bible says that this passage is necessary to augment what comes just before: it's the reason why the Son must be crucified ("lifted up" as we read in yesterday's reading, above). Jesus declares God's great love not only for Israel but for the world, God's creation. My study bible says, "This single verse expresses the whole of the message of John's Gospel, and indeed, of salvation history."
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." My study bible tells us that while Christ came to save and not to condemn, human beings have free will. We can reject this gift we're offered, and become condemned by that rejection.
"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." Here's the crux: it's all in how we respond to the gift, to the light. Do we want it, or do we not want it? John's Gospel clearly states why we wouldn't want it; we don't want our deeds to be exposed in the light.
These are Christ's words given to us in John, that "God so loved the world." It's "the explanation for everything," if we want to put it that way. Science gives us studies in which "the theory of everything" might be explained, but if we really want the key, well, here it is. The key to everything is love. God loves us as a Father. So much so, the Only-begotten came into the world to save that relationship, to bring us back to God, so that our lives may be as rich as possible with life in abundance. It's really that simple, and yet it is also so complex. How do people reject love? How do they reject that kind of love? Human beings tend to make things so complex, don't they? Some people confuse abuse with love. Some people claim that love means tolerating all kinds of behaviors that are damaging to relationships, to a marriage, for example. Forgiveness also comes in the great example of Christ, as part of love. But His kind of forgiveness comes two ways in the Gospels: via repentance, and via a plea to the Father on behalf of those who really don't fully understand what they are doing. And so, we have love again, the love that more than anything else wants a full reconciliation with us, with each of us. How do we live that love? How do we follow His example? How is condemnation also a part of this picture? I think the text is telling us that this is up to us. Do we want this love, or do we not want it? It is like a marriage, it seems. It's a relationship offered, the deepest possible bond. But it's up to us to choose it for ourselves. Do we want the place this love is taking us toward? Are we willing to do our part? Can we bring everything we are, everything we have, into this relationship of love? John tells us there are reasons why it's rejected, that there are deeds desired and harbored that are in some way evil. The Greek for this particular word for evil means "overly laborious" and its root is in the word for "pain." So we get the image of what kinds of deeds are done that hides from this light: things that cause others pain, inflict toil or distress. We're all familiar with the "evil" things of the world that take up time, cause endless labor to deal with, delays and turmoil and toil. This is the kind of "wickedness" described by this word. Imagine the pain caused by selfish acts whose bad effects can last decades or a lifetime, causing others enormous distress which needs a great deal of work to heal: murder, thievery, manipulation of all kinds. Think of the hatred harbored that brings pain and toil to others, even needless misery. Harassment is also something that, it seems to me, falls into this category. These are the acts kept covered in a darkness that doesn't want the light. So, the love is on offer, and it's our choice how we respond. Do we really treasure the one thing necessary? Do we have any idea how great is this gift? Are we willing to bring everything to its light?
