Sent to save the world John 3: 14-21

Gospel reading for Sunday March 18th John 3: 14-21

A quick look at the reading for next Sunday reveals that it contains the most famous and well known verse in the whole of scripture, John 3:16. (see top ranked bible verses website.) At first it seems rather strange that the reading commences part way through a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. To properly put this in perspective it is essential to go back at least to the beginning of John 3. As it happens though, the reading for this same Sunday last year was John 3:1-17. (See reflections on that famous verse John 3:16 and the Nicodemus perspective from March 2011.) It should also be noted that a full study of this whole John Chapter 3 discourse ideally should take in a parallel event in the Old Testament ... the story of Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the desert (see Numbers 21:4-9).

I suspect therefore that given the way this lectionary reading has been front-end truncated, the intention is probably for us not to consider so much the Nicodemus lead-up, but 3:16 itself and the postlude to it.

It seems to me that 3:16, while it is a central summary of the Christian faith, it is also fast becoming the focus of major controversy amongst contemporary theologians!

One of the implications of this verse and for Christianity in general, is the inevitable insistence on exclusion (hell, eternal punishment, call it what you like) for ALL those who do not believe in Jesus as their Saviour. That seems to be consistent with John's quoting of Jesus later on (ch 14) ... “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

The problem is, that line of thinking can be interpreted as being in conflict with the God of unconditional and universal love of the New Testament as portrayed in other readings - e.g. the parable of the lost son - and what about John 3:17?  "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." In John 10 Jesus says ... "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen". What do we make of that? Then in John 12, Jesus is quoted as saying "... when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL people to myself.” ( my emphasis on the word all)

One of the very recent books to cause a major stir in Christian circles is Rob Bell's "Love wins." Bell has been accused of many things from being a universalist to a heretic, but many believe that his arguments are soundly based on scripture. He makes the point that "... it is our responsibility to be extremely careful about making negative, decisive, lasting judgements about people's eternal destinies. As Jesus says,'He did not come to judge the world but to save the world'  "
 
With regard to Jesus being the only way to the Father, to quote Rob Bell again ... "what He (Jesus) doesn't say is how, or when, or in what manner the mechanism functions that gets people to God through him. He doesn't even state that those coming to the Father through him will even know that they are coming exclusively through him."
 
I've thought about that a lot and it seems that this thread of thinking is strongly reinforced in the parable of the sheep and goats, where Jesus makes it clear firstly, that caring for the sick / needy / marginalized is welcoming Jesus himself and secondly that those who were classified as the sheep were quite surprised that they had met and served Jesus in that way.
 
While this all may be seen as a controversial challenge to conventional theology, I believe that it is healthy to engage ourselves in robust debate about such things and develop more than just a casual awareness, for it is highly relevant to us in Lutheran Schools in our 21st Century context. I think this is a reminder to Christian people generally not to think that we have all the answers and that we have the mystery of God completely fathomed out. It is perhaps also a call more than ever before, for us to be highly ecumenical (inclusive of other religious backgrounds) in the way that we operate. Needless to say, that is why the current Authentic Lutheran Schools conversation is important - for while we need to be highly inclusive of all people from all backgrounds in our staffrooms and classrooms, we must instill into our culture the fundamental elements of what it means to be a Lutheran School ... and we can celebrate that at the top of the list we have as our catch-cry saved by grace! 
 
Nev
 
PS  We don't have to agree with people like Rob Bell... but for some challenging, cage-rattling reading, grab a copy of "Love wins" - readily available for download on iBooks too.