Lectionary for 4th Lent
Opening sentence. By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
Collect. Gracious Father, you gave us our Lord Jesus Christ as a model of humility: in lowliness and obedience he yielded up his life on the cross. Enable us to follow his example, that, in humility and obedience, we may bear witness to your steadfast love and attain the joy of the resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Ephesians 2:1-10. In the first chapter of Ephesians Paul has unfolded the plan that God had from the beginning to have a family that would live together in harmony and at all times honour God. This family was centred on Abraham and his descendants. With their failure to follow God in obedience the prophets announced that the nation would suffer greatly and be overrun by their enemies but God would bring into being a New Covenant to replace the former one. This New Covenant would be led by a leader after God’s own heart. This planned New Covenant would bring into being a glorious New Creation which would exist in harmonious obedience with God. While this New Covenant was known to the nation of Israel, Paul emphasises that the “mystery” in this New Covenant was that the Gentiles would be now included into God’s new glorious family. It is with this in mind that we read this passage today.
Paul reminds the congregation that they, the Gentiles, were dead to God for while they lived to please themselves they lived in disobedience to God’s commands. Living in the world’s way effectively alienated them from God. This general principle is true even today. Many people think that because they live a “good” life they are acceptable to God but by Paul’s reckoning only obedience to God brings God’s approval, only obedience will link one to God.
The reason for that is clear; God chose Jesus Christ to be the one who would draw everyone into God’s family. Jesus was the one who lived a life fully in obedience to God’s will and in God’s way. Jesus lived this life out of love for God, it was not compulsion but an act of pure love. From that love Jesus embraced the whole of humanity giving to each of us the opportunity to be adopted into God’s family. In Him and only in Him do we come alive to God. Once alive to God through Jesus Christ we discover that we have a great future and an amazing inheritance. We can now live a life that pleases God.
For Paul there are two positions, life within God’s family under the headship of Jesus, or death following a way of our own choosing. Jesus Christ gave us an opportunity for a new beginning, an opening into a glorious future with God. As John wrote, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6)
Prayer. Gracious God we thank you for your goodness and grace. In Jesus Christ you have called us together in his name, one family before you. We praise you for the blessing we have received through your gracious gift. By your grace grant that we may walk in the fullness of life that Jesus has secured for us. Daily may we live our lives in obedience to you, inspired by your Holy Spirit, ever willing love and serve you. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
Reading. John 3:14-21. Our passage today from John’s Gospel joins into Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and we should not make too much of the fact that he came at night. There is a sense of caution yet all rabbis had a trade and so during the day they worked at their trade. Paul for example was a tent-maker and earned his living by making tents. As such, night time was the time to sit and discuss matters of religion or theology. Nicodemus, wanting to learn from Jesus suggests that he at least among the Pharisees had a mind which was open to the teaching from Jesus.
Quickly the discussion turned to the foundations of salvation. Being included in the kingdom of God was a much debated topic but by being born again or born from above was a great surprise to Nicodemus. Jews understood that they were an integral part of the kingdom by simply being Jews!
Jesus points to an incident during the wilderness wandering on the way to the Promised Land. The people turn against Moses and also against God. As a result of the people grumbling against God an invasion of serpents sent by God caused many deaths among the people. They beg Moses to pray to God to have mercy. The remedy was a bronze serpent pinned to a pole that was visible within the camp.
The Greek word in our translation of the bible “serpent” has a more literal meaning of “a malicious poison” – something that takes hold of a person and they die! Perhaps something like “a snake in the grass”
What is being described is a rebellion as people turn away from God. To draw the people back the bronze serpent was a reminder of the mercy of God with the power to call them back even from approaching death.
Still on the topic of salvation Jesus is reminding Nicodemus that separation from God is the result of disobedience. Once separated the end result was death. The bronze serpent, no matter how unlikely or even distasteful was the sign of God’s forgiveness. When viewed through faith it was the antidote to the serpents bite. Nicodemus would have understood that transaction as something spiritual received by trust. It is then that Jesus emphasises that the Messiah must be lifted up, an understood reference to crucifixion as the action of God to bring forgiveness and acceptance by God. Like the example from the bronze serpent, it had to be looked at, which reminded the people of their failure, then they had to trust that God was at work already giving them life. Eternal life is life with a future filled with promise and expectation.
In verse 16 which is probably the most remembered verse from the New Testament John reminds us that it is in the death and resurrection of Jesus which reminds us of God love and of God’s salvation. John also reminds us that believing is not simply a once only action. “Believes” should be read as “believes and goes on believing”. Paul wrote to Timothy at the end of his life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. 2 Timothy 4:7.
The death of Jesus has an ongoing effect on our lives as we trust him and all that he has done. The blessing of God’s salvation comes as we live our lives in company with Jesus.
Prayer. Holy and Gracious God, your love for us is so amazing and yet we often doubt you, sometimes we even live in despair. But you alone are the one who by your plan has won salvation for every person, and by your love you have made it possible for everyone to be gathered into your family. We lift our hands and our hearts to praise you and bless you for Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Through him we have access to your forgiving love and can live in the joy of your perfect freedom. By your Spirit’s power may we keep our eyes on Jesus, living always to honour him. We ask in his Name. Amen
Collect. God of all mercy, for us Christ is lifted up on the cross, and lifted into your presence; light is shed upon the world. Give us a love for light, and direct us into the ways of life in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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