John 3:11-21 (NRSV)
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Verse 11"Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. Verse 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? Verse 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. Verse 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, Verse 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. Verse 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. Verse 17"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Verse 18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Verse 19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Verse 20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. Verse 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."
Devotion
John 3:16 is a very popular scripture verse. Its context is the preceding verses, where John mentions Moses lifting the serpent in the wilderness (see Numbers 21). The people of Israel complained about God and Moses. The Lord sent serpents among the people. The serpents bit many, killing them. The people repented, and Moses was commanded to place a bronze serpent on a pole in the midst of the people. All who were bitten and looked at the serpent were saved.
John says Jesus will be raised on the cross, like the serpent on the pole. This is the outcome of God’s love—those who look to Jesus will “not perish, but have eternal life.”
Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for your love made perfect in the gift of your Son, Jesus. Keep us confident in your salvation accomplished in him, our Lord and Savior. Amen.