John 3:14–21 (NRSV)
Read John 3:14–21 on biblegateway.com
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
Today we begin with a flashback. Jesus reaches into the past to remind Nicodemus of the Moses story, recalling the serpent in the wilderness which by God’s promise was lifted up in order to save the people from death. Now Jesus states that by God’s promise he too will be lifted up to save people from death. Jesus’ narrative propels him forward to show us he is the great link between what was, what is, and what is yet to come. As his crucifixion nears in our Lenten story, he points to the purpose and end of that story. The Good News for today is that Jesus came to demonstrate God’s love for the world. It’s been that way since the beginning, when God created everything. The love God for God’s people has always been at the heart and center of all God does—past, present, and future.
Prayer
God of all times and places, lift up what we need to hear, to see, to feel, to embrace, and to love. Help us in the times, places and opportunities for love, to raise up and build up your people. Strengthen us for the journey. Amen.