Fourth Sunday In Lent March 9-10, 2024
“At Rest” John 3:14-21
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
Quality of life means everything to us. Being incapacitated or limited is very difficult for many of us. Some, as they grow older, have difficulty in doing the things that they once did. During 2023 we saw a huge increase in the number of deaths in this congregation. 19 of our members died last year. I don’t know if that is the new normal for us and that is what we should expect in the future, or if the Fountain of Youth can be filled up once again at Ascension.
But this is what I witnessed when death came to your loved ones: Many people said, “Though I miss them, I don’t wish them back. The last number of their days or weeks or months were hard. They weren’t going to get better. Their quality of life wasn’t very good at the end.”
Quality of life means everything to us. And it means everything to God. John 3 is a chapter about the quality of life that God gives to people.
The chapter begins with Nicodemus. You might know some things about him. He was one of the most important people in Jerusalem. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish Ruling Council. When Nicodemus walked by, people noticed. But Jesus questioned the quality of his life. He cuts right to the center of Nicodemus’ security. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3) No one. Not even some big, important person. Now, did you know that the phrase, “born again” is the same as “born from above”? From above. From God. Jesus defines the failure of Nicodemus when He tells him, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” Jesus states again what He demanded, “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (See John 3:6-7) The quality of life for Nicodemus, who he was by himself, didn’t raise to the level of what God wanted for him. That is true for everyone.
Jesus spoke about being born again, being born from above, by water – Holy Baptism – God’s cleansing. Jesus had a quality that He wanted to bring to this guy. But Nicodemus didn’t understand. Was he going to go back into his mother’s womb and start over again? Preposterous!! Jesus said to him, “You are Israel’s teacher and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” (John 3:10-12)
Jesus was always talking about the quality of life. When Jesus taught on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), He was speaking of the quality of life that a person who has been given the new life through Jesus exhibits. Being the salt of the earth and the light of the world is all about quality of life. Jesus would say of this, “I have come that you may have life, life to the full.” (John 10:10) Nicodemus was told he could have this new quality to life if he would be born anew, born from above.
Life, as God has always desired for everyone, is a life that lives with a confident trust in God’s redemption. Jesus tells an account from the Old Testament that corresponds with what He was to do in His death. Do you know the account from Numbers 21? The people of Israel had sinned, again. And this time God sent snakes to wake them up and bring them repentance and change. The snakes were deadly ones and if you were bitten you died. In a panic they asked God for a cure. His word was this – Take a snake – now one made of bronze, and put it on a pole, raise it up for all to see it and if you are bitten, look to the snake and you’ll live. Odd, wasn’t it? How could a piece of bronze, in the form of a snake, hung over a pole, save their lives? Sounds superstitious. But it wasn’t the snake that saved them. It wasn’t some type of hocus-pocus. No, it was taking God at His word of promise that brought them healing. Their faith in God’s word of salvation, redemption, rescue saved them. In John 3:14 Jesus equates what happened then with what was going to happen to Him, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Lifted up has two meanings here. Lifted up – crucified, suffering and death on the hill of Calvary. But also, lifted up – raised in victory, a place of exaltation and glory. He is lifted up and so are we.
Those who do not have faith in God, do not have the fullness of life which God wants to bring to everyone. Those whose heart is not at rest in Him, not experiencing peace with God through Jesus, are not opening all the gifts that God desires for them. The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)
The quality of life that God gives to His people is amazing. You’re born from above, you’re born again. God’s Holy Spirit lives in you. You live at rest knowing that God is ever recreating you. In the Old Testament God always seems to be pleading with His people. He has plans for them – good plans. “Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin shall not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:30-32)
You know this chapter. John 3. Nicodemus. “You must be born again.” “The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” But it is John 3:16-17 and you, and I pray the entire world, knows and believes. Can you recite it with me? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Pretty straight forward, right? Not that complicated, huh? “Whoever believes in him shall not perish (that is, go to hell) but will have eternal, everlasting life.”
I have a question for you, though. Is he talking about quantity (length) of life, or is He speaking about quality? When I think about eternal life I think about quantity – life that doesn’t end. We enjoy God forever. Jesus speaks that way in John 11, “Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (Verse 25-26) There is no passing of time in heaven, like Peter writes, “Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (II Peter 3:8)
Yes, eternal life is quantity, but more than that, it is quality. For those who have been born from above, who have been born again by water and the Spirit, who trust in the Christ on the cross, the quality of life in eternity is exceptional. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new.’” (Revelation 21:3-5) If you have lost your loved one you can say with confidence – “They’re doing just fine.”
The quality of life isn’t just what you’re given, it is also in how you live, what you do with the gifts that God has bestowed. The reading from Ephesians for today fits so well with our John passage. Faith. Grace. Live. Live a life of excellence – bringing glory in all we do. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) When John concludes this chapter notice where he leads us, “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 2:21)
What a glorious project God is working in us. Born from above. Born again. New life. Trust in Jesus. Eternal life of unending quantity and of the greatest quality. A life of great purpose.
Quality of life means everything to us. And it means everything to God! What a masterpiece He is making in us. Amen!!
