What did/does John 3:14-21 mean 1. at the time? 2. now?

Answer 1

Well, I don't know! It's all Greek to me!

Answer 2

Jesus is talking about the purpose and benefits of His crusifiction. They are the same today as then.

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Answer 3

John 3:16 is what you see people display at a lot of American Football matches. Personally I think they are a shower of Genesis 38:9's

Answer 4

The stuff about Moses "lifting up a snake" is a reference to a story in Exodus when God inflicted a plague upon the Israelites for their disobedience. In order to be redeemed (cured both physically and spiritually), the people had to look upon a bronze snake that Moses set up (under instruction from God).

In the same way, Christ was set up (under instruction from God) upon the cross, so that the world might be redeemed through Him.

Also, it mentions that Jesus didn't come to condemn (as in, didn't come to make everyone go to hell who didn't believe), but to save the world. He came not only that we wouldn't die, but that we'd have the fullest life possible.

Same meaning today; it's just harder to understand the Moses story since most of us aren't familiar with it.

Answer 5

I can't speak to the time in question but in our current reality, I believe it speaks to choice. We can choose, if we so desire, to ignore or not recognize our spiritual natures. If we do so, we are in essence doomed post death because we believe nothing happens after death. If on the other hand we choose to see ourselves as spiritual beings, then our "choice" regarding our spiritual path should be a choice that recognizes the spiritual path that resonates with us. That could be Christianity or something quite different. The point being, you choose to "light" your existence instead of wandering in the dark.

Personally, I do not believe that the entity or entities that set our universe in motion would kill or torment the thing they created. That attitude is psychopathic in nature and has been used by organized religion to control. Instead, like the god or gods and goddesses that created the universe, we are a reflection of that creation in all its diversity. Once we realize that we are creative beings working in concert with the divine, choosing to light our existence become plainly obvious.

Answer 6

It hasn't changed one bit. John 1: 12 says to them that accept me and believe in me I give them the right to become children of God. Accept that Jesus is the leading light to save the world. Trust it and see for yourself?

Answer 7

Jesus was talking about His death...being lifted up on the cross. But also about what His work on the cross was to accomplish. Our salvation. It means the same now as it did then. God did not come to condemn us but that through Jesus we might have life in Him.