Sarah Patton shares her reflection and meditation on this well known passage in the Gospel of John.
Prayerfully listening to John 3: 1-17, the phrases “everyone who believes in him will have eternal life” and “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” stood out and lingered, bringing forth questions and other words from Jesus amplifying this passage.
Jesus said that by believing in Him, we will not perish but have eternal life. What does He mean by eternal life? Is it only that we will be with Him after we die? Or does eternal life begin when we believe in Him? In John 10:10 Jesus stated that He came that we may have life and have it abundantly. How does that connect to eternal life?
Jesus continued that he came not to judge the world but to save the world through him. What does it mean for us to be saved? Is it more than knowing we will not go to hell? What does Jesus mean by save?
Scripture uses the Greek word for save, sozo, which encompasses the fullness of what it means to save. It is much more than being delivered from judgment. Sozo means to keep safe and sound, to rescue or protect from danger, preserve from destruction, to heal, restore, to make whole. Even when we are in the midst of trials or danger, Jesus came to make us whole.
Meditating on these things, I received these words of Jesus:
I have come to bring life and to save.
Life, abundant life, that begins now, in this world as you partner with me to bring the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
This life in and with me will never end.
Death will never part us, for you are mine.
Forever mine.
I come to save you and all the people of the world.
To save the suffering ones from perishing,
To preserve those in danger of destruction,
To save and rescue you,
To heal, restore, and make you whole.
John 3:1-17 NLT
There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.
Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
For Reflection and Prayer:
Was there a word, phrase or image which caught your attention you as you listened to or slowly read the text? Quietly reflect on it in your prayer with Jesus. Journal your conversation.
Was there any particular emotion or longing which emerged as you listened to the scripture? Notice it. Be curious about it. Talk it over with Jesus in your prayer.
Savor any consoling words or pictures as you quietly rest in God.
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