“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, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-16)

We are all familiar with John 3:16. But do we really understand what Jesus is saying? What does it mean to “believe” in Jesus? What might help us understand this whole idea of “believe” is to consider who is Jesus speaking to?

We often think John 3:16 is unbelievers. We use John 3:16 to share with unbelievers, and so we think this passage has no real application for believers. But the fact is, Jesus was not speaking to unbelievers but to the God-believing people of his time - the nation of Israel. Historically, Jesus was speaking to the children of Israel… but there are the words of Jesus are not just historical, but contemporary. So who is the real audience of Jesus?

Jesus was speaking to people who were concerned for life. This was precisely what the story of Numbers 21:4-9 reminds us. The people were bitten by snakes and they were dying under the judgement of God. But God has made a way for them to live… if they gazed upon the bronze serpent, they would live (Numbers 21:8-9). Jesus brought this story out to make the point - in the same way people who were dying, could have life following God’s Way (gazing at the bronze serpent); so too, people who are now dying, can have life following me - I am the Way.

The World, and sometimes, ourselves too, have a tendency to ‘box’ Jesus up. We put him in the category of religious teachers and spiritual gurus - we believe in Jesus so we are Christians, not Buddhist or Taoists or Hindus or Muslims or Fa Long Gong. For spiritual and heavenly and life after death needs, Jesus is our Man. But for everything is, Jesus is not our man. For wealth management, experts at UBS or Citibank is our man. For our health needs, top medical scientists are our man. For advancement in life, we go to career guidance counselors and marriage and family experts, life coaches.

Let me be clear, there is NOTHING wrong with learning with the experts in society. The point I’m making here is our relationship with Jesus - where is Jesus in relation to our every day life and concerns? Who do we say that Jesus is? Is Jesus our Go To Person? Is Jesus our Man?

Jesus did not come to start a religion. He didn’t come to make more “Christians”. He came so that people who are dying have life and life in abundance. Not just life that lasts forever, but life that is worth living NOW and forever. Are you and I lifting Jesus up in our lives? Are you and I, experiencing an “eternal” kind of life - one that never corrupts, never deteriorates and is growing in vitality and dynamism?

If you are looking for that kind of life, Jesus is the Man.