God So Loved the World

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just 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. ‘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 judgement, 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 3:1-21

I have been sporadically following the 2024 Olympic coverage, always marveling at the feats of speed, agility and strength we see each day. The amazing young athletes, gathered from around the world, found rivals and friends in one another, and hugged and congratulated each other, despite the differences in languages, cultures, and political stripes. This is the world God so loved. Jesus made it clear that there is not one chosen people whom the Creator loves more than the others. God so loved the whole wide world, the people scattered across the globe and all of this precious creation. At our best, we can compete with one another and still have love for each other. This is where we have been called, to a broken world that needs to see the possibility of love across vast differences.

Loving Creator, you made this beautiful world

and populated it with various shades and kinds

people who speak and see life differently 

yet you sent you Son for all the world to know.

You loved us when we were fighting and unlovely

you love us when we act in violence to one another

you sing to our broken bodies in the darkest nights

reminding us you came to restore the love of all.

Help us today to have your spirit and renewed hope

let us rejoice in difference as a true and holy gift

finding your face and strength in the others

knowing that we are bound together in your love. Amen.