Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 - 2nd Week of Easter - Tues
[Acts 4:32-37 and John 3:7b-15]"No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. 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." [John]
The dialogue with Nicodemus continues in today's gospel scripture. I recommend reading the whole dialogue beginning with yesterday's passage through tomorrow's - verses 1-21. Several features of Jesus' preaching in this gospel will present themselves. First of all, the encounters with Jesus serve as "platforms" for "discourses." Today's passage is an example. Second, the Gospel According to John uses a lot of contrasts - above/below, light/darkness, sight/blindness. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. When Judas leaves the last supper, the evangelist comments: "And it was night." Tomorrow's passage from this dialogue will feature the light/darkness contrast. The word, "verdict," will also appear as an example of legal/adversarial language that this gospel contains. We also hear Jesus speak of HAVING (present tense) eternal life - i.e. faith in Jesus is the beginning of eternal life, not at the time of physical death. Scripture scholars and theologians call this "realized eschatology," meaning what we think begins at death or at the end of time really begins with faith in Jesus as the one whom God has sent. And, lastly, Jesus speaks of his being "lifted up." This will alert us to his being lifted up on the cross and to his "hour" of glorification.
This is all a lot to digest from one passage, but it is like a roadmap to the rest of this dramatic gospel portrait of Jesus and his mission as the one whom God has sent. Tomorrow's portion of the encounter with Nicodemus will feature some familiar words and the light/darkness contrast. How much of our lives do we live in the light of Christ and how much do we keep in the darkness? AMEN