Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 6, 2016 - 2nd Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 5:17-26 and John 3:16-21]God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. [John]
Many people are more familiar with the citation for these words from the Gospel of John than they are with the words because at one time the "John 3:16" citation would appear on banners at sports events. If the viewer was curious enough to go and find a Bible, they would read the evangelist's reflection. I say "evangelist's reflection" because there are no quotation marks in the text to show that Jesus is speaking. He had just told Nicodemus: "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." The next five verses are a wonderful reflection by the evangelist. (I know there were no punctuation marks in the most ancient manuscripts, but this is the consensus of most scripture scholars.)
These words are an expression of faith and also a summary of the whole Gospel of John. It really comes down to this: do we believe that Jesus is the one whom God has sent. If we do, then John's words are a great comfort. If we do not, then we find ourselves in this gospel among the adversaries of Jesus. This confrontational theme runs throughout the gospel and is expressed in the term "judgment" which comes from a Greek word from which we get our word "crisis." The evangelist is urging the reader toward faith in the one whom God has sent. The "prologue" to the Gospel sets out the vision and everything else follows.
I have found it helpful to view all four of the gospels as "preaching." They are not meant to be journalistic accounts but documents of faith. I invite the Beloved Congregation to try this and each consider his or her faith response after reading those four "homilies." AMEN
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