June 19, 2025
The Trinity - Part 4
John 3:12-15
06/19/2025
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not
believe, how can you believe if I tell you
heavenly things?
13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who
descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
14 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. (ESV)
Nicodemus did not understand Jesus. ``How can this be?'' he
asked. Jesus replied:
If I have told you earthly things and you do not
believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly
things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who
descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the
Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him
may have eternal life.
Jesus, the Son of God, became flesh to accomplish two
things. First, He proclaimed the Kingdom of God, that the Father
desires that all people would be saved by knowing the truth of
God's grace. Second, that grace of the Father, the grace of the
Triune God, means that God, Himself, had to die to pay the price
of our sin.
Jesus reminded Nicodemus of the rebellious children of
Israel who, when they defied God in the wilderness, were attacked
by venomous serpents. When bitten, if they looked in faith
towards a bronze serpent which was hanging on a cross, they would
not die from the snakebite. The bronze serpent was a symbol of
God's promise. Faith trusts God's promise.
We are condemned to everlasting punishment. As we look to
the Son of God as He died and rose from the dead, as we have
faith or trust in His sacrifice on the cross, we will be redeemed
from our sin. We will not suffer the punishment we deserve.
This is the work of the Son.
May our Lord grant us faith as the Holy Spirit works through
the Word and sacraments to trust in the work of Jesus Christ.
Amen.