December 18 2005 John3:16-21
December 18. 2005 John 3:16-21
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John 3:17-21 "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."
Nicodemus is one of the more interesting people in the New Testament. A Pharisee and leader of the people, he came to visit Jesus at night to discover for himself who Jesus was and what Jesus was all about. I guess he found out more than he bargained for. The next time Nicodemus appears in John’s gospel is on Good Friday. At that time, he and Joseph of Arimathea took the body of the crucified Christ and laid it in a tomb.
The record seems clear that Nicodemus came to the light of Christ and it can be seen that his deeds were done in God. One night with Jesus and he was changed for the rest of his days and for all of history.
As the season of Advent draws to a close once again, do we come to Jesus in the night as well? Do we come forward in the dark, because we need to hide or is it from shame and fear? Or perhaps, like Nicodemus, we come before Christ wanting to learn more of what he is about.
Throughout this season we are told that Jesus is the reason for the season of Christmas and on a regular basis we are reminded to put Christ back in Christmas. Both are proper suggestions. However, if we miss part of Jesus’ words to Nicodemus, I think we miss the real reason for the season of Christmas and the thirty three years that followed the birth of the infant in the stable in Bethlehem and that is; “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.” As we celebrate this year, let us recall the reason he came and give thanks to God once again.
Loving God, you sent an infant to lead us back to you and so we come. You sent your Son to die for each of us and we give you thanks. You send us into the world to live for you and we go, carrying the light of your mercy and grace. Thank you for the gift of Christ and the gift of our salvation through him. This we pray in his holy name. Amen.
Contributed by Norma DePlume
Click here for today’s podcast!
John 3:17-21 "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."
Nicodemus is one of the more interesting people in the New Testament. A Pharisee and leader of the people, he came to visit Jesus at night to discover for himself who Jesus was and what Jesus was all about. I guess he found out more than he bargained for. The next time Nicodemus appears in John’s gospel is on Good Friday. At that time, he and Joseph of Arimathea took the body of the crucified Christ and laid it in a tomb.
The record seems clear that Nicodemus came to the light of Christ and it can be seen that his deeds were done in God. One night with Jesus and he was changed for the rest of his days and for all of history.
As the season of Advent draws to a close once again, do we come to Jesus in the night as well? Do we come forward in the dark, because we need to hide or is it from shame and fear? Or perhaps, like Nicodemus, we come before Christ wanting to learn more of what he is about.
Throughout this season we are told that Jesus is the reason for the season of Christmas and on a regular basis we are reminded to put Christ back in Christmas. Both are proper suggestions. However, if we miss part of Jesus’ words to Nicodemus, I think we miss the real reason for the season of Christmas and the thirty three years that followed the birth of the infant in the stable in Bethlehem and that is; “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.” As we celebrate this year, let us recall the reason he came and give thanks to God once again.
Loving God, you sent an infant to lead us back to you and so we come. You sent your Son to die for each of us and we give you thanks. You send us into the world to live for you and we go, carrying the light of your mercy and grace. Thank you for the gift of Christ and the gift of our salvation through him. This we pray in his holy name. Amen.
Contributed by Norma DePlume
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