The mystery of God’s salvific love for us in Jesus Christ is dramatized when he was lifted up on the cross and given by the Father, so that whoever believes in him will not be condemned (John 3:14-21). For those who look up to Jesus on the cross with faith have in fact eternal life.
He must be lifted up
The cross was a scandal, stumbling block to many. A savior hanging on the gibbet of the cross! In anticipation of the Jews’ cry of repudiation: “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” (John 19:15), the evangelist firmly locates Jesus on the cross, taking a cue from the Wisdom of Solomon (16:6-7) that spoke of “sign of salvation” in the brazen serpent in the wilderness. In a play of the word “lifted up,” we are told that “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.” During the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness, their endless grumbling against Moses and against God led them to be stricken by fiery serpents (Numbers 21:6-9). Begging Moses to mediate for them with God, they were instructed to look upon the brazen serpent Moses was commanded to mount on a pole. They were healed by looking upon the ordered sign, that is, by believing in God’s power as manifested in the serpent.
Now all those who look upon and believe in the crucified and lifted up Son of Man will be saved. The double significance of “lifted up” bespeaks the cruel lifting up of Jesus upon the cross by his enemies (John 8:28; 12:32), and his lifting up and exaltation by the heavenly Father at his cross and resurrection. The hanging on the cross was not the end of Jesus but the beginning of his ascent to glory to the Father. The evangelist clearly has in mind the description by Isaiah (53:13) of the suffering servant, “Behold my servant shall prosper: he shall be lifted up and glorified exceedingly.” The healing of the many was accomplished by the suffering of the servant.
He was given by the Father
The other word John uses to delve into the soteriological significance of Jesus on the cross is the verb “to give.” Again, its double significance alludes first to the handing over of Jesus by his enemies to Pilate (John 18:30.35.36; 19:11) and by Pilate to the soldiers to crucify Jesus. But its deeper meaning refers to God’s “giving” us His only Son not only at the incarnation but also likewise at the sacrifice of the cross. Whatever Jesus’ enemies might have thought they were doing to and against him, the evangelist is tracing what God is writing straight for our salvation through their crooked lines.
With echoes of the faithfulness and sacrifice highlighted in the story of Abraham and his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2.16-18) and in the figure of the suffering servant (Isaiah 53:12), the evangelist points to the depths of the Father’s love as the bottom-line and most sublime ground for the entire mystery of our salvation. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” What could account for the things mentioned by Jesus to Nicodemus: the gifts of rebirth, of the Spirit, of life in union with God, of eternal glory? Not any merit on our part can explain such divine mercy, but alone God’s incredible love for us.
Alálaong bagá, we rejoice on this Laetare Sunday at God’s faithful love for us even as we confess to our sinfulness and unworthiness. God did not send and give His Son to the world to condemn the world, “but that the world may be saved through him.” On our part it is necessary that we believe in Jesus and with him concretely stand for the light and the truth. Jesus is the light come into the world. True believers do not prefer darkness to light. Those who hate the light do not live the truth. The truth and the light are venues of our communion with God in Jesus Christ.
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