In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
“Most assuredly, I say to you,” Christ tells Nicodemus a few verses before today’s reading, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:5) Yet Nicodemus does not understand: “Are you the teacher of Israel,” says the Lord,
and do not know these things?
vv. 10–12
Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews and a member of the Sanhedrin, but did not understand. Yet he was not unwilling to learn. Christ, throughout this passage, shows us that Nicodemus was seeking reality, seeking Truth, so gives us this beautiful teaching. The Lord continues immediately with today’s reading, “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven.” And we marvel! We marvel not that Christ ascended to heaven, rather that He was willing to descend—descending to the earth to find Adam whom He loves, and not finding him upon the earth descending even to the depths of Hades—that mankind might be restored to our ancient beauty.
Whereas Nicodemus wanted to understand but did not, at least not at this stage, I do not want to understand. I like the message of Life, of forgiveness, of the Kingdom, I like whenever and wherever the Gospel benefits me, so the Lord must demonstrate to me the path by which I must travel to get there.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal Life.
And I want to see this as Christ’s act for me, what He has done and has now been accomplished, fulfilled, over: and in a sense it is true, “For indeed Christ, our Pascha Lamb, was sacrificed for us,” (First Corinthians 5:7) says the Apostle. But this is not enough.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34–35, 15:12–14
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. …
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
Since as Christ was lifted up, so must I be. If I want Truth, if I want the Kingdom, if I want Life, then I too must be willing to be lifted up: I cannot expect the benefits of the Gospel without being crucified with Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ,” says the Apostle,
it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
And so I must change. I cannot expect the blessings of the Gospel if I remain unmoved, if I do not allow myself to be lifted up in shame, in suffering, in sacrifice. And being lifted up, to the world I appear to be sent to descend to Hades, to the realm of death. Yet if I allow this, if I work for this, if I trust in the living God and remain faithful to Him, then the promise has been given, “whoever believes in [Christ] should not perish but have eternal Life.”
And, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the same is said for all of us. We may rejoice at the blessings, but if we refuse to descend through ourselves being lifted up then we deny Christ. Let us return to the embrace of Christ and place Him at the centre of our lives, let us turn to the Cross as our means of demonstrating our love for our neighbours, our families, our friends, and so demonstrate to the world the salvation which comes through Him.
But far be it from me to glory except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
— Galatians 6:11–18
The Lord said, ‘No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.’
— John 3:13–17