Jn 3:14-21
[Jesus said to Nicodemus:] 14“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
16For God so loved the worldthat he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him mightnot perish but might have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoeverbelieves in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe hasalready been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of theonly Son of God.
19And this is the verdict, that the light came into theworld, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works wereevil. 20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. 21But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
Reflection:
SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP.The discourse between Jesus and Nicodemus points to the reality of thecross. Jesus summarizes his preaching, his works, and his whole life inhis cross. As he accepts, carries, and dies on the cross, Jesus showsto us how much he loves us.
The lifting up recalls how the peopleof Israel grumbled against God and Moses in the desert and many of themwere bitten by saraph serpents to death. God instructed Moses to make abronze serpent and mount it on a pole, so that anyone who had beenbitten could look at it and recover (cf Nm 21:4-9).
Exalted to glory at his cross andresurrection, Jesus represents healing for all. We are invited to sharein Jesus’ glory, but we must first share in his agony. We are called tobe a people of faith. We must then believe, accept, and carry ourcross, following Jesus and believing that the road leads toresurrection and eternal life.
Accept the light and live the truth (cf Jn 3:19),
have faith in Jesus,
and live your baptismal promises.
have faith in Jesus,
and live your baptismal promises.
