Fourth Sunday in Lent – John 3:14-21

For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction (John 3:16-17, VOICE)

Raise your hand if you have John 3:16 memorized. This is a beautiful verse full of grace and God’s love… God has claimed us and has made us God’s own… God loves us so much that God sent Jesus, the only Son, to come to earth to claim us.

But, for me, the kicker of this passage, indeed, the kicker of the entire conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus is not John 3:16 (God’s love) or John 3:3 (born again) or even John 3:14 (very important discussion about the cross)… but John 3:17.

Christ did not come into this world to judge it, condemn it, or trick it into failure… rather Jesus came into this world that the world might have life through him… He came, not to destroy but to build, not to condemn but to love, not to judge but to save.

As followers of Jesus, let’s start to live life that way!

O God, rich in mercy, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this fallen world and rescued us from the hopelessness of death. Lead us into your light, that all our deeds may reflect your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

– The Editors