For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
It is God’s love for mankind that made him send his only begotten Son, consubstantial and co-equal with God, to be lifted up on the cross for the eternal salvation of those who believe so they would not perish. Jesus was sent to save the world not to judge and condemn the world. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him (Jn. 3:36; Jn. 5:24; v. 18).” The Son of Man, God’s divine Word, (Jn1:1-2) has his origin in Heaven and can reveal God to the world. He reveals the truth (v. 21) but the non-believer, the one who has hardened his heart against the Son of God, the one in whose heart there is no love of the Son of God, brings judgment against himself and is in a state of condemnation. It is belief or unbelief in Christ, as evidenced by one’s deeds, that leads to self-judgment in the present time. Jesus, the light, came into the world but the world preferred the darkness and did not recognize him.
God first introduced the thought of sacrificing the ‘only son’ when he asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen 22). God ‘gave’ His son human life in the incarnation and gave humanity spiritual life when He gave his Son up to death. Jesus surrendered himself to death and showed the depths of the love of the Godhead (the Trinity) for mankind. Everyone is called by God to righteousness in Christ, but not everyone responds to the call. Individuals must choose to be brought out of the darkness of sin into the light of Christ that saves. Those who do not accept and believe in the name of Jesus will be deprived of the Glory of God. Those who believe will be justified by the Blood of Christ. The righteous live in the light, but those who do evil reject the light and do not seek truth.
Almighty God, because of the immense love you have for mankind you asked your only begotten Son to hang from the cross so that your unworthy creation might be saved. Grant us the grace to love you as you created us to love you, and welcome to the heavenly banquet all who believe in your Son. This we ask through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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