John – Chapter 3:15-26
3:14-15 “It is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up” – “To lift up” or “exalt” is interpreted by the Bronze serpent incident (Num 21:4-9), Jn 12:32-33, “He said this to show by what death He was to die,” and the prophecy of Isaiah 52:13. Apart from the Crucified there is no salvation or eternal life. Eternal life is received and possessed in faith. Eternal life is not only a future gift but also the life now given and present in the act of believing. Eternal life is, therefore, that life lived by that faith which binds and unites us to Christ the Crucified and thus is conformed to Him. 3:16-21 “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned…” – Now the Evangelist assumes the role of preacher, giving commentary on v. 14-15. This is a Christian sermon on Num. 21:8-9. The people in the wilderness are confronted with a “crisis” (3:19) that demanded and elicited either faith or disbelief resulting in either life or death. In a similar manner, the cross, God’s final and complete love in the death of His Son for sin, is placed in the midst of all people and confronts everyone. “For” indicates God loved the world in this way: He “lifted up” the Son of Man that whoever believed might in Him have eternal life. Love is not simply the motivation or the cause, love is the lifting up of the Son. “So that” indicates result, with two variations in v.16, a positive and negative. While God “sent” the snakes to the people because of their sin and for their punishment, God “sent” His Son into the world, not for judgment, but that through the Crucified the world be saved from death by the gift of eternal life. The snake on high is a figure of the future crucified Son of God and the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that He would give. Look on the snake (Son) and live (3:18a). Refuse to look on the snake (Son) and die (3:18b-c). Note that both the snake and Christ were lifted up in the midst of people already under judgment but the promise is also for everyone. Both are given for healing. “The world is already judged by original sin, the hereditary fall, and the Law of Moses” (Luther). Faith given in Baptism is the determining factor of the…