John 3:16-21
“For 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. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” John 3:16-21 (NRSVUE)
Think about funerals that you have attended. Each one has a different “feel” to it. Some are full of hope and some are full of sadness and finality. John 3:16-21 helps us understand the feeling in each of these circumstances.
I have attended several funerals at Southwood and each one has been filled with hope and assurance of life after death, that we will one day be reunited with all believers, and the promise of everlasting life. These funerals have been filled with hope and assurance that John 3:16 promises.
Contrast that to a funeral that I attended several years ago, I was attending a funeral of a non-believer and several people at the funeral were non-believers. I remember sitting there thinking how final this death must feel to them. I left the funeral feeling empty inside. This is what the rest of these verses are explaining to us.
John 3:16 is the verse that many people can recite and the verse that probably shows up the most in our current culture. But John 3:17-21 helps explain the empty feeling following the non-believers' funeral. Those who do not believe in God, live in “darkness” and run from the light. This leaves a hollow and empty feeling when celebrating their life. They may have still been good people, but there is darkness and finality to their death. Whereas, those who believe in Jesus, live in the light. Their lives bring a light when they live their life to honor God.
Questions for Reflection:
- How do attending funerals of non-believers make you feel?
- What do your actions signal to other believers? Will they see you going towards the light?
Prayer:
God of eternal life, help me focus on You and guide my actions to show others that I can come to the light. Thank you for sending your Son to die for us, so that we may not fear death because we have the promise of everlasting life. Amen.
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