Fourth Sunday of Lent: Gospel B

Jesus said: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

· Jesus is referring to Numbers 21:9. The Israelites had turned away from God and sinned. As a chastisement God sent snakes that bit and killed some of the people. The rest cried out to the Lord who told Moses to mount a figure of a serpent on a pole. If anyone called upon the Lord, while gazing on the symbol, God promised deliverance and healing.

· On a side note, when people question you about “worshipping” statues, ask them how they explain this event in the OT and Jesus validating it?

· What connection do you see with Jesus on the cross?

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 

· Personalize this statement and reflect on it. “God so loved me that he gave…”

· God desires us to live with him, sharing his life, now and forever. How strong is the desire to respond in our hearts?

· To accomplish this Jesus gave his life. What are we willing to do to show our gratitude and life this life?

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

· What is your commitment to Jesus like at this time of your life? Has this grown over the years? What is Jesus asking of you as you reflect on this passage at this time of your life?

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God”

· Do you see yourself more in the light than in the darkness? What areas of darkness or sin does God want you to remove from your life, so that you may be more in the light of his grace?

· What resolution do you feel you need to make to respond to the Word of God?

· Has Lent been a time of response to grace and return to the Lord? Do we need to refocus our sights for the rest of Lent?