# Those who do what is true come to the light
*2015-03-13*

> Bill Young reflects on the Gospel of John and the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, focusing on the salvific power of the Cross.

## The Word of God

Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent. In the Gospel of John 3:14-21, Jesus says to Nicodemus, '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. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.'

Jesus explains that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but so that the world might be saved through Him. While those who do evil avoid the light so their deeds are not exposed, 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.

## The Paschal Mystery

In this passage, a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the cover of night, seeking further explanation. The evangelist John brings this encounter to life by going immediately to the heart of the Paschal mystery. When John refers to the Son of Man being 'lifted up,' he is referring to Christ on the Cross.

In John's description, Jesus being raised high on Calvary is a moment of exaltation. It is here that Christ destroys sin and death forever, conquering death by the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the will of the Father.

## The Action of the Trinity

The Trinity acts mutually and gloriously, bringing the possibility of eternal life to all people for all time, both as individuals and as the Body of Christ. The question for us is how we can cooperate with this event and choose to live in the light of God's forgiveness.

## Counteracting the Darkness

It can often seem as if the darkness of sin prevails in our world. However, those of us who believe are called to counteract that darkness with our own acts of light and love.

*May this next week of Lent bring the light of God to all.*