The Gospel of John 3:14-21 also included vs 1-13.
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ 3 Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ 4 Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ 5 Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So, it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ 9 Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ 10 Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
Let us Pray: We ask your prayers for the church to be filled with life through the Holy Spirit and strengthened to carry out the vision God has for us. We pray that as we proceed with God’s mission we will grow in faith and love. This we ask in the Name of your Son Jesus our Lord. Amen
Sometimes I think we shortchange the Gospel lessons. This week’s Gospel needs the intro from verses 1-13. This gospel fits perfectly for Laetare Sunday. Laetare Sunday has traditionally been viewed as a day of celebration, on which the austerity of Lent is briefly lessened. Being halfway through Lent, it gives us a break from the penitence symbolic of Lent. Many churches use rose colored vestments and put rose-colored flowers on the altar. The fourth Sunday is a day of hope with Easter within sight. It is a time when the light of the resurrection of Jesus can be felt.
In this Gospel we look to the very thing that frightens us the most, death itself, and somehow find there a path to an eternal life that means death no longer has the final word for any of us, expressed by these words: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Making this gospel a very uplifting lesson. It can give us all hope for eternal life if we take the time to understand and believe in the good news of Jesus.
Let us Pray: Let us be thankful on this Fourth Sunday of Lent that as we approach Easter, we pray that the light of the Lord guides us through the darkness, guides us to His saving Grace. The Grace that provides us with hope in today’s world of stress and fear. This we pray in your Name. Amen.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
Reflections by Bob 