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 world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not 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. 18Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 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 the cross. Jesus summarizes his preaching, his works, and his whole life in his cross. As he accepts, carries, and dies on the cross, Jesus shows to us how much he loves us.
The lifting up recalls how the people of Israel grumbled against God and Moses in the desert and many of them were bitten by saraph serpents to death. God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole, so that anyone who had been bitten could look at it and recover (cf Nm 21:4-9).
Exalted to glory at his cross and resurrection, Jesus represents healing for all. We are invited to share in Jesus’ glory, but we must first share in his agony. We are called to be a people of faith. We must then believe, accept, and carry our cross, following Jesus and believing that the road leads to resurrection 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.
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