John 3:16-21

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John 3:16-21

We have arrived at the famous John 3:16.  First of all, what is "for" in reference to?  Jesus has just referenced the lifting on the bronze snake and related it to himself being lifted up.  I guess verse 16 fills in some details that were missing in verse 14 and 15.  Not only is Jesus to be lifted up for eternal life for those who believe in him, but this is done by God because of his love for the world.  Moreover, his love is expressed in the giving of his only son.  This isn't just about saving and it isn't just about eternal life, this is motivated by love.  With regards to this love, we are told about the act of the giving of one's only son.  As humans who live on this earth and experience family and love and loss, we can try to somewhat understand the degree of God's love knowing what it might mean to give up one's only son.  God really did love the world.

Now the idea of condemnation is brought into play.  Yes, we just read about God's love for the world, but we see that God's purpose of sending his son was to be saved through him and not condemnation.  God's love is the motivation and saving through the son is the purpose.  I guess you could say that they're one in the same or at least connected.  So, why condemnation?  We read that believers are not condemned, but unbelievers have already been condemned.  This is because they have not believed.  This in itself seems a bit circular.  Perhaps there is a point in what is specified as the reason.  Specifically, we are told that the one who is condemned already because of not believing is because "he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God".  Earlier we read of believing "in his name".  What is Jesus' name?  He is Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:23).  To not believe that Jesus really is "God with us" is to be condemned already.

Now the judgment is described.  What is this judgment in reference to?  Well, this is in reference to those who are condemned.  Those who are condemned are those who will receive this judgment that is being described here.  So, what is the judgment?  The judgment is "the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil".  The judgment is that Jesus came and he is the light.  The judgment is that in spite of Jesus coming, people did not love Jesus as they should.  Instead, they loved the darkness rather than the light.  The judgment sounds like what is described in Romans 1, when God gives people over to their sin.  Jesus goes on further to explain this.  Why does this even happen?  this is because "everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed".  It makes sense, doesn't it?  People who do wicked things hate the light.  This is because they don't want their deeds to be exposed.  In contrast to this are those who do what is true and come to the light.  This is the judgement.  The light has come into the world and exposed those who do wicked things and hate the light and it exposes those who do what is true and come to the light.