Lent 2012“When Life Begins”

John 3:14-21

THE GOOD LIFEAdvertisers recognize that as humans we are deeply drawn to some vision of the good life.They advertise in ways that appeal to this desire, trying to shape our understanding in terms of their product.

THE GOOD LIFEScripture tells us God’s story of the good life, which not surprisingly often conflicts with what advertisers tell us.The biblical story of the good life begins in Eden, where the first humans enjoyed and then lost this life. The rest of the story describes God’s plan to restore the good life.

THE GOOD LIFEHarvest’s vision statement situates us at the center of God’s plan to restore the good life:

Our vision is to be a Christ-centered community committed to biblical

worship and teaching that reaches all people,

restores them to wholeness, equips them for service,

and sends them to reach others.

NUMBERS 21God sends venomous snakes to punish rebellious Israel.“Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.(v. 7)

NUMBERS 21The LORD said to Moses,“Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live” . . . when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. (vv. 8-9)

JOHN 3Jesus has been speaking with Nicodemus: One must be “born from above” to understand and experience the good life.

JOHN 3Jesus then says:“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (vv. 14-15)

Jesus applies Numbers 21 to his own impending crucifixion (see John 12:32-34):• look at is replaced with

believe• live is replaced with have

eternal life

What does Jesus mean by eternal life?• Literally, “life of the age to

come”• Emphasis not on “when” but

on “what” – quality of life, heavenly life, the good life

• Those who believe can experience this kind of life now.

• This life is in him (Jesus).

JOHN 3For 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. (v. 16)

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”John 10:10

If Jesus intends for us to experience the restoration of the good life, why don’t we? How can we experience it more fully?What does it look like?One problem is that advertising works (and Satan is quite happy about that)

What does the good life look like?Knowing God in Christ is the good life.“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3

We have heard it before, but we know deep inside that only by truly knowing God can and will our deepest desires be met.There are many other good things, what C. S. Lewis called “second things.” Growing deeper in knowing and enjoying God in Christ is the “first thing.”

As long as our desires are not aimed first at knowing God, we cannot enjoy the true goodness of second things.Significantly, God uses weakness and struggles to help us aim our desires at knowing Him rather than at second things.

Lest we think that this Story is really all about us having our desires satisfied . . .

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7

His intent was that now (!), through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.Ephesians 2:10-11

In God’s wisdom, as we turn to him and know him more deeply in Christ and though the Spirit, he is honored more fully throughout all creation, seen and unseen.Our experience of the good life in Christ leads to God being honored as he should be!

Words for Prayer & Reflection“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life.  Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.  But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:47-51

As we continue our worship together, let us focus our hearts on Christ and the restoration God intends for us in him.Let us ask God for his grace and power so that we might know him better.Let us ask him to reveal areas in which we are putting second things first.

THE JESUS CREED“Of all the commandments,

which is the most important?”“The most important one,” 

answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel:

The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  

Love the Lord your Godwith all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your mind

and with all your strength.’ 

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as

yourself.’ There is no commandment

greater than these.”