John 3:14-21.                      Lift our eyes and live!!                                                    11/3/18

(14)  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, {15} that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. {16} "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. {17} For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. {18} Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. {19} This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. {20} Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. {21} But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Here in the midst of Lent we again have a message that puts a very clear point and challenge to each and every one of us. The implications are far reaching and profound: God’s approval or condemnation; living in light or darkness; eternal life or eternal death. Serious implications indeed! So, we need to listen carefully here to what God himself has to say.

Here we are pointed to the great and glorious hope that we have as Christians. John 3:16 would have to be one of the most well-known verses in Scripture. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. It is God’s Good News to us in a nutshell.

Here, this Good News is placed right into the very heart of the rough and tumble of life: the darkness, death and hell that is all around us. In our mixed up and troubled life we are pointed to the one sure hope that there is. In contrast to the consequences of a sinful, selfish world, we are reminded of the glorious salvation there is there for us. If only we would not ignore or close our eyes to it.

In many ways, the problem is that we don’t want to see the depth and extent of the problem that is before and all around us. ‘They are minor flaws that can be overcome with a few more dollars and a little more human technology. If we become more open and tolerant we will do away with fights and squabbles, sickness and death. If we work at it we will be able to evolve into a better future.’

However, the reality is otherwise. Humanity right from the fall of Adam has been trying to insert its independence from God and build its own utopia. All along the way however, our selfishness and sin has continually brought our endeavours to nought. No matter what we do or how hard we try, it always has and always will come unstuck. No matter how good the idea, selfishness and sin will always bring our best efforts to nothing.

So, darkness is continually hovering over humanity. We grope around in the darkness hoping against hope that we will get through life safely. We want to see and make a way through for ourselves. We want to hope that the next bit of research and a few dollars will make the difference. But any realistic look will point to the opposite.

God in his Word makes it quite clear to us that no matter how hard we try and whatever we attempt, our sinfulness always messes it up. He tells us again and again that we cannot and will not ever achieve for ourselves the utopia that we long for. Above all he tells us that these endeavours of ours are deadly. They are not minor problems and difficulties but have huge and deadly consequences. Especially eternal death in hell and separation from God.

But he reminds us also, that as we look to Him, then there is a light and a way through it all. As we look to him we are told there is a way through and the certainty of eternal life in heaven with our Lord. In him there is a light at the end of the tunnel; and it even helps us here and now in the midst of this troublesome world. There is meaning and purpose to our lives here and now.

However, so many today do not want to see or be a part of this Good News. One so often wonders why it is that many don’t want to see and take advantage of this one sure hope that there is. Why is it that they don’t want to live in the light of a good and glorious way of life? Well here in this reading God is very clear as to their reasoning?

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. They don’t want to listen to or know God’s Word, because they don’t want to know that what they are thinking and doing is wrong. They want to do their own thing irrespective.

But again, they don’t want to know how serious the implications are. Darkness, condemnation and an eternity in hell is there for all who turn their backs on God. ‘Surely it is not that bad. After all I am a reasonably good bloke.’ Here today God uses the image of the snake on the pole that Moses was commanded to use when many, many people were being bitten by deadly snakes and were dying as a result.

For the people of that day the situation was quite clear. They knew that if they were bitten they were dead. There was none of this thinking that ‘it won’t hurt me: I’m okay Jack’. This was life and death. The results were right there in front of them on a daily basis.

But God gave them a way out: Moses put a snake on a pole and whenever anyone was bitten they were to look to that pole and they would be healed. And it worked! Even though it would have seemed stupid to human reason, it happened just as God said it would. So, they learnt a valuable lesson: look up to the snake – look up to God and you will be saved. God alone could get them through. To those who trusted him they lived. To those who considered it and God stupid they died. Clear and simple.

 So, Jesus uses that as an illustration to the people of his day and to us today as well. First of all, to remind us of how deadly a game we are playing when we think that we can ignore God and seek to live by and for ourselves. But then to point us again to the miraculous and wonderful Good News that he extends to us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. So again, the point is made with regard to the absolute necessity for Jesus Christ to die on the cross There alone do we find that which saves us from impending doom and hell. There we hear in the clearest possible way what is vital for us all.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God gives his own Son to die so that all who look up to him and believe in him will live. Trust him and eternal life in God’s family is assured. There is acceptance by God instead of condemnation. His Son takes the punishment so that we might be freely and fully forgiven.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. God has come in Jesus Christ to deal with the problem of our sin. He takes the punishment that we deserve on himself so that we might be forgiven. Look to him and believe in him and salvation is guaranteed. We are freed to live for ever in God’s presence. How wonderful. How amazing. To him be all glory and honour forever.

However, let us not forget what he says immediately after saying those words.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. The consequences of not looking up to Jesus Christ and trusting in him is deadly. Eternally deadly!

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Yes, the Light has come into our darkened word. Now we can see the problem and the way that God has provided through it for us all. God has done a truly marvellous thing for us. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Now we can go forward boldly and confidently looking up to and trusting in our great God and all that he has done for us. He has given us, all that we need in order to face up to our selfishness and sin; to be brought back into God’s presence and light; and also given us what we need in order to now live in a way that is good and helpful for us in the midst of the serious problems of this sinful world.

So, this Lenten season let us endeavour to continually turn to him and look up and live. Let us hold closely to this promise from our Lord:

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.  

To him be all glory and honour now and forever. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish