John 3:16-21
‘The Son of Man must be lifted up
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.’
We’ve met this text already in the Fourth Week of Lent. The second half of the quotation is probably one of the most well known in Scripture and its meaning is clear. The first half of the quote however is rather obscure. It refers to a story recorded in Numbers where the people were being bitten by snakes, Moses fashions a bronze serpent, holds it up and whoever looks upon it lives. Whatever we might think of the likelihood of this happening, the point the evangelist is making is about healing and our need of it. Jesus is presented as the one who brings healing through suffering and glory. The Jesus of this gospel is in control, goes resolutely to his death and then is ‘lifted up’ on the cross. His weakest physical moment is the moment of his triumph.
From our vantage point of Eastertide we might hear this text a little differently. The tone of our liturgy, the décor in our churches and signs of spring in our gardens can all shed a ray of light and hope on these words. During Lent we’ve been shown the cost of discipleship and now in Eastertide we are invited to live this with Joy. We will never be able to side step suffering, but in the light of Easter we know it can be transformed.