Sunday Readings: 2 Chronicles 36.14-16, 19-23; Ephesians 2.4-10; John 3.14-21
Jesus spoke to Nicodemus. “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that God gave God’s only begotten Son, that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have life forever. JESUS 1: God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but so the world might be saved through him” (John 3. 14-17).
Jesus’ mission is not to condemn the world but to save it. He calls us who believe in him to live in the light, to act for all to see.
Jesus calls us not to become accustomed to the harsh realities of our world like people starving in war zones, racial injustice, militarized police, ethnic cleansing, refugees, workers without jobs and health coverage. We cannot take the daily suffering of millions of our fellow humans for granted,
But, as Nicodemus eventually does, we, too, by the grace of God, can leave our destructive deeds behind and come to the foot of the cross to stand in the light of the one like us who is lifted up. We can begin now to see God’s kingdom in our midst and live the new life Jesus brings. We can do our part today in our world to take broken and suffering humanity down from the cross.
- Who can I or we take down from their crosses? Whose sorrow and pain can we help relieve?
- What poisonous bites have you experienced in your life? How might you seek healing for this hurt?