SAVED THROUGH GRACE

IV SUNDAY OF LENT - John 3:14-21

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells us in no uncertain terms that “it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God; not by anything that you have done so that nobody can claim the credit.” (Ep 2:8-9) We cannot boast about our own good deeds. Even if we were always just, true, honest and well behaved, we have no right to salvation. We are earthly human beings, whose feet always touch the dusty ground. We cannot demand as a right that the doors of heaven be wide open to welcome us. It is by God’s love and mercy that he opens the doors for us, inviting us to go in. We cannot force our way in. 

In the gospel, we are presented with part of the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus in which Jesus speaks of God’s love for humankind. The coming of his Son is the greatest proof of love. God does not hold back, but, in Jesus Christ, his beloved Son, he gives us everything. 

“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.

For God sent his Son into the world

not to condemn the world,

but so that through him the world might be saved.” (Jn 3:16-17)

Jesus Christ - the Son of the living God - came to save not to condemn, and we are saved by believing in him, that is by accepting him and following him. He is the role model that we must imitate and to whom we must look for guidance.

Jesus reminded Nicodemus that Moses had lifted up the serpent in the desert so that all those who looked at it would be healed (Num 21:8). The serpent stands for God’s gratuity. They had sinned and sin brings death, but they would be healed freely, just by looking at the serpent. There was nothing that they could do, but open their eyes and look to the serpent. Doing that, they recognised their sin and put all their trust in God who is merciful. At the same time, the lifted serpent is a symbol and a prophecy of Jesus being lifted up on the cross. Jesus is aware of what awaits him: the cross, and on the cross, he presents himself as the remedy which will bring healing to us: everyone who believes in him, will have eternal life. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ. If we refuse to believe in Jesus Christ, then we are already condemned. We may ask why? Only Jesus may bring healing to our diseases; then, how can we be healed if we refuse to approach and to accept him? That happens when we prefer darkness to light and it is so when our deeds are evil. Let us put Jesus Christ forward as our role model and then follow him. He is the way, the truth and the life.