Gospels explained by Jesus - Gospel messages, gospels explanation |
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John 3:14-21
Year B -
Fourth Sunday of Lent
God loved the world so much
When I told Nicodemus that the Son of Man had to be lifted up just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, I was recalling the past when people offended God and their punishment was to be bitten by deadly serpents. So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; anyone bitten would have to look at the serpent of bronze to live. Numbers 21:8-9
I was declaring to the world that I was going to be crucified and die. I predicted that I was going to be exposed to everyone like a cursed dead serpent, so that by paying for your sins with my death you could find life in me through the forgiveness of yours sins. And just as sin and death came to the world through the first man, so grace and life comes from the Son of Man, a title that I gave myself to represent the whole human race. Since the offense committed against the eternal God could not be repaid by anything of this world, so I was sent to the world to pay with my human and divine nature the punishment assigned to everyone which is death. But God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. I did not come to condemn the world since it was already condemned by sin, I came to save it through my living sacrifice by which you obtained the forgiveness of your sins, to show you the love of God for His creation. This is why I am still present in the Sacrifice of the Mass, providing my blood to cleanse you from your sins. The Holy Scriptures testify: "They will look on the one whom they have pierced." Zech 12:10 Make yourself worthy to be purified, eat of my flesh and drink of my blood to live. I invite everyone to believe in me, to believe in my word, to believe in my suffering and death for your sins, to believe in the power of God that I have, believe that I will raise you up on the last day. I am the light of the world, a light that dissipates the darkness of sin. Those who do not believe are missing out on the gift of God, they are condemning themselves since they prefer to live in darkness. Come to the light my little child, do not be afraid, confess your sins, purify yourself in my blood and see with the eyes of the spirit the wonders that I present to you.
Received by: Joseph
of Jesus and Mary
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14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
