Lent 4 Text Study for Winkel

Lent 4

3/18/2012

Psalm 107:1-9

Numbers 21:4-9

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21

As part of the winkel's in our circuit, every once and awhile I get assigned to prepare a text study of the Gospel lesson coming up.  Here is the study for today's winkel.

The Bronze Serpent

⁴ From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. ⁵ And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” ⁶  Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. ⁷  And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. ⁸ And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze^[a] serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

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2  And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^[b] 4 But^[c]God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

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And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.^[a]

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world,^[b] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ²⁰  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹ But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

3:14 Kai. kaqw.j Mwu?sh/j u[ywsen to.n o;fin evn th/| evrh,mw|( ou[twj u`ywqh/nai dei/ to.n ui`o.n tou/ avnqrw,pou( 15  i[na pa/j o` pisteu,wn evn auvtw/| e;ch| zwh.n aivw,nionÅ 16  ou[twj ga.r hvga,phsen o` qeo.j to.n ko,smon( w[ste to.n ui`o.n to.n monogenh/ e;dwken( i[na pa/j o` pisteu,wn eivj auvto.n mh. avpo,lhtai avllV e;ch| zwh.n aivw,nionÅ 17  ouv ga.r avpe,steilen o` qeo.j to.n ui`o.n eivj to.n ko,smon i[na kri,nh| to.n ko,smon( avllV i[na swqh/| o` ko,smoj diV auvtou/Å 18  o` pisteu,wn eivj auvto.n ouv kri,netai\ o` de. mh. pisteu,wn h;dh ke,kritai( o[ti mh. pepi,steuken eivj to. o;noma tou/ monogenou/j ui`ou/ tou/ qeou/Å 19  au[th de, evstin h` kri,sij o[ti to. fw/j evlh,luqen eivj to.n ko,smon kai. hvga,phsan oi` a;nqrwpoi ma/llon to. sko,toj h' to. fw/j\ h=n ga.r auvtw/n ponhra. ta. e;rgaÅ 20  pa/j ga.r o` fau/la pra,sswn misei/ to. fw/j kai. ouvk e;rcetai pro.j to. fw/j( i[na mh. evlegcqh/| ta. e;rga auvtou/\ 21  o` de. poiw/n th.n avlh,qeian e;rcetai pro.j to. fw/j( i[na fanerwqh/| auvtou/ ta. e;rga o[ti evn qew/| evstin eivrgasme,naÅ

-          u[ywsen - Aorist Active Singular “Lifted up”

-          o;fin- Serpent (in the Septuagint this is the word used for serpent in the Garden of Eden, Moses’ staff, and also for the “Fiery Serpents” that attack Israel in the OT lesson - @r'f

-          u`ywqh/nai dei/- It is necessary + the infinitive “to be lifted up”

-          monogenh- Only begotten

-          kri,nh- judgment

-          swqh/| o` ko,smoj diV auvtou- to save the world through Him

-          h;dh ke,kritai- Already judged

-          o[ti mh. pepi,steuken- Because they have not believed with present abiding results (Perfect tense)

-          evlh,luqen- Perfect tense from erxomai “has come and is here”

-          hvga,phsan oi` a;nqrwpoi ma/llon to. sko,toj h' to. fw/j\- aorist verb “men loved the darkness more than the light.”

-          h=n ga.r auvtw/n ponhra. ta. e;rgaÅ- for their works are evil

-          misei/ to. fw/j- hate the light

-          o[ti evn qew/| evstin eivrgasme,naÅ – Note the word order  for emphasis “Because in God are works worked.”

Notice the Parallels between v. 14-15 and v. 16 –

 

v.14-15                                                                                    

kaqw.j Mwu?sh/j u[ywsen to.n o;fin evn th/|
    evrh,mw|( 

ou[twj u`ywqh/nai dei/ to.n ui`o.n tou/
    avnqrw,pou

e;ch| zwh.n aivw,nionÅ

i[na pa/j o` pisteu,wn evn auvtw

v.16

ou[twj ga.r hvga,phsen o` qeo.j to.n ko,smon(

w[ste to.n ui`o.n to.n monogenh/ e;dwken(

i[na pa/j o` pisteu,wn eivj auvto.n mh. avpo,lhtai

avllV e;ch| zwh.n aivw,nionÅ

Original Context

This pericope falls at the end of Nicodemus’ first encounter with the Lord in the Gospel.  Last year’s Lent 2 pericope (Series A) was the first part of this conversation.  Nicodemus arrives late at night to question Jesus.  Nicodemus is a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrin.  Nicodemus seems to believe that Jesus is from God because of the miracles that Jesus is able to do. (John 3:2)  However, even understanding that Jesus is from God, Nicodemus misunderstands (as do all the Jews) why Jesus has come.  “Perceiving Jesus through the lens of their own (Jewish) preconceptions, they are ready to make Jesus their king, but do not accept that he will give life to the world by the sacrifice of his own flesh (cf. 6:2, 15, 26, 52; 12:9-18, 34) (Craig Koester Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel).

Nicodemus’ entire conversation with Jesus fits well into the theme of “light and darkness” that is contained within the Gospel of John.  Nicodemus comes in the dark of night, and his discussion with Jesus (in our pericope) finishes with the light that has come into the world.  As the pericope says, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

Fitting in with Lent, the crucifixion is made clear in the text as well, comparing the lifted up “Son of Man” with the lifted up “fiery serpent” in the Old Testament lesson.  In Lent, we look ahead faithfully to Good Friday and the death and resurrection of our Lord. 

The Lifting of the Serpent in the Wilderness

The Old Testament pericope is simple.  During the time between the Exodus and the entering of the Promised Land, the people of Israel grumbled against God almost continually.  Before we point fingers, we ought to consider how often we too grumble against God and what He does or doesn’t do in our lives.  At one point, God sends “fiery serpents” whose poisonous bites caused many to die.  God sends this as a call to repentance.  At the same time, God gives them a way to be saved.  A bronze serpent is made, hung from a tall pole, and all who are bitten by fiery serpents may but look at the bronze serpent to be healed and live.  It isn’t a magic trick - it is God’s Word, heard and believed by the Israelites for their salvation. 

This particular Gospel and Old Testament lesson are tied together.  This is especially seen in the first few verses of our text, with the parallels between the serpent and the Son of Man.  There is tremendous similarity to the sentence structure as shown above.  The way these two sentences are worded, we see clearly why John 3:16 needs to be connected to John 3:14-15.  To understand what God’s love does, we need to see Jesus “uplifted” (uyow).  God’s love is not something nebulous. It is a love that very clearly does something - lifts Jesus up to save, just as the serpent in the wilderness was lifted up.  In fact, the lifting up is “necessary” (dei) according to the text.  Thus it is important to include the precursor to John 3:16 in the same thought as our oft-quoted verse. 

“Jesus speaks of the exultation of the Son of man, so ‘lifted up’ acquires a double meaning here:  the exultation of the Son of man (=his glorification) is effected by his being raised up on a cross.” (Ridderbos, The Gospel of John)  In other words, there is a twofold aspect to Jesus’ lifting.  It is his crucifixion and death, as well as his glorification.  Jesus is glorified in the cross.  Jesus brings this point home later (following the voice from heaven) when he speaks of his death saying, “But when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” (John 12: 32)

Verse by Verse

v. 14-15 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life"

This verse lays the foundation for what comes in the next verse.  It takes the hearer back to the Old Testament lesson, to the wilderness with the people of Israel.  For those people at that time, their lives depended on a bronze serpent lifted up for the entire world to see.  Seeing that serpent and trusting (through faith) in God’s promise related to that serpent saved them from the bites, and allowed them (eventually) to enter the Promised Land.

In the same way, so too must the Son of Man be lifted up.  We look to Christ, so that as we believe in Him, we may enter God’s Promised Land and “have eternal life.”  Furthermore, it is necessary (dei) for this crucifixion event to occur.  It’s the main reason the Son of Man has come – to be raised up and glorified.  It is the purpose for the incarnation.

v. 16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

With the similar sentence ending to the above verses, one can grammatically understand what God’s love is – that the Son of Man is lifted up just like the serpent in the wilderness was.  Because of God’s love/Jesus’ lifting, we will not perish, but have eternal life.  This is the Gospel, plain and simple.  God gives His Son into death and gives us life.  God runs the verbs, God does the work, God gets the glory. 

v. 17-18 - For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God

Christ has not come to condemn the world, but to save it by His “lifting up” just as the serpent saved the Israelites.  This statement cannot be disconnected from the cross.  However, those who do not trust in the cross event already stand condemned, just as those who did not look to the bronze serpent died.  Why?  Because they lack faith in the name of the only Son of God. 

There may be a connection to the first part of the pericope when Jesus speaks of Baptism (born from above).  Where do we get the faith in the name?  Where do we get the very name of God upon us?  In Baptism.  Doubting Jesus, His cross, and His gifts to you lead to condemnation because all that remains apart from Him is sin, death, and the devil. 

This idea will be further fleshed out as Jesus continues in the coming verses. 

v. 19 – And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 

Here is the judgment that already condemns all who are apart from Jesus – They love darkness more than the light.  In other words, they don’t “fear, love, and trust in God above all things,” but love themselves more.  This lack of faith, this desire to love things that are not from God is sin.  In sin, all works are evil.  Anything done apart from faith in Christ is sin in God’s eyes. 

It is a harsh and cutting judgment.  It is one that still cuts to the heart of our people today.  “Do you love the light, or do you love the darkness?”  Perhaps we quote the famous hymn writer Billy Joel in his famous hymn, Only the Good Die Young, “I’d rather laugh with the sinners and cry with the saints, but the sinners are much more fun.” 

Perhaps a little more scriptural, the epistle lesson says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind".  We love the darkness, the passions of our flesh.  We carry out the desires of our bodies and minds and are by nature children of wrath.  So is the rest of mankind.  Psalm 14:3 “All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

v. 20-21 -  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹ But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Doing wicked things is proof of hating the light.  We avoid the light because light shows what poor and miserable sinners we are.  How many of your people keep sin hidden deep within, hoping beyond hope that no one will find out, especially not the pastor or God?

However, he who is in faith naturally does good works, fulfilling their vocation.  As it says, “his works have been carried out in God”.  It is only in faith that good works follow.  And faith only comes from the sacrifice of the lifting up of the Son of Man on an old rugged cross. 

Conclusions

To briefly summarize, this text is about the cross, plain and simple.  The Law is that we already stand condemned for our sin and for our doubt, just as the Israelites who grumbled were attacked by fiery serpents.  Yet, just as with them, God gives us a way out – not on our own works, but completely based on the works of Christ.  He puts a savior on a pole/cross.  Looking to him, we see God’s glory and love.  By his wounds, we are healed. 

Sermon on v. 14-16 from last year’s Lent 2

Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the Gospel lesson, especially these verses, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so too must the Son of Man be lifted up.” Thus far our text.

Dear friends in Christ, the people of Israel had been on quite the journey. They had gone from being slaves to Egypt’s Pharaoh, to being the free chosen people of God. Moses had been sent to be the instrument that God used to rescue the people and to bring them into the Promised Land. The people had been brought through the waters of the Dead Sea safe on dry land. They had been led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They were fed with manna and quail. They had seen God’s holy mountain, covered with smoke and fire. And God had promised them a land flowing with milk and honey.

But it wasn’t enough. Even having seen these miracles that you and I struggle so often to believe, these stubborn people still doubted. “Are we really going to a promised land? Or are we being led out to starve in the wilderness? Is God really speaking through this Moses fellow, or are we being taken advantage of?” Even despite all the amazing things that they had seen with their own eyes, despite tasting the heavenly manna that appeared with their own tongues, they doubted that God was doing what He said He was. They still were uncertain. They still lacked faith.

So, in their uncertainty, God sent poisonous snakes in their midst- snakes that slithered right into the midst of their camp and their tents. Snakes that bit them causing them to suffer and die. We all know what happens when you are bitten by a snake - the poison surges through your body, slowly killing the victim. These Israelites suffered because they had turned away from the Lord their God. Now there was a problem. What were these people to do? Where were they to turn? They came to Moses and said, “We have sinned against God by complaining about being in this desert. Talk to God for us, so that we might be saved.”

Moses did speak to God, and God gave the people of Israel a way out. God created a way that they might be saved. Moses was to make a bronze serpent, and nail it to the top of a pole so that all who were bitten by a serpent might gaze upon it, and be saved from the poison coursing through their bodies. Even in the midst of the Israelites sin, God provided a way out.

Dear friends, just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so too must the Son of Man be lifted up. I know that this Bible story seems far away from you and your life. You may feel like you have nothing in common with the people of Israel, or even of Nicodemus in our Gospel lesson. But the fact of the matter is you are closer than you might think.

You see, you and I have also, just like the Israelites, been given tremendous gifts. You and I have received life from our creator. He has given us our body and souls, our eyes and ears, our reason and all our senses, as well as our homes and families and more. God has given these gifts to you before you were even able to ask for them. God has provided so much for you.

And yet, we too deal with doubt, we too deal with sin and grumbling against God. And because of our doubt, we too have a serpent who attacks us. That first serpent, Satan, the very one we heard about last week attacking Adam and Eve, also bites at you in your doubt. He bites you and fills you with the poison of self-trust, the poison of denial, and more. And that poison that enters your body is nothing other than the very sin that affects your life.

That poison is the sin that divides your family. It is the sin that makes you so badly want to sleep in on a Sunday morning. The poison of Satan is that which says, “Why can’t I decided for myself? Why can’t I be my own master?” That poison of Satan’s attack is the very poison that will one day kill you through cancer, through old age, or through some other ailment. Satan’s attack is strong, and there is nothing you or I can do about it.

Lord, have mercy on me. Lord, forgive me and rescue me, for I have nowhere to turn. And the Lord does. God does for you just what he did for the people of Israel so long ago. He hangs a sacrifice on a pole so that you might look upon it and know that you are forgiven. Only this sacrifice is not bronze, and it is not a snake. This sacrifice is the very living God hidden within human flesh. That baby whose birth we celebrated not that long ago is the one who will be nailed up upon a wooded pole, a cross, for the entire world to see.

Dear friends, look upon your God, your salvation, as he suffers for you. Look upon Him bleeding and dying for you. Look upon Him as He cries out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and know He is speaking on your behalf. For you see, Jesus dies for you. Jesus gives up his life so you can live. God so loves the world, yes, even you in your sin, that He gave His only son, that all who believe in Him, all who see Him suffering on the cross in their place, might have eternal life. In that you have rescue. In that you see what love is and what love does.

Dear friends, your faith looks to Jesus. Your faith, itself a wonderful gift of God, keeps your eyes firmly fixed upon your salvation, so that even as that old serpent the devil attacks you throughout your life, you still might live and one day enter the paradise prepared for you. What a gift. What a blessing. God saves you, just in the exact same way that he saved the Israelites.

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man, so must Jesus, be lifted up so that you make look upon Him and live. Amen.