Fifth Sunday in Lent – Sunday, 21st March 2021

A work colleague in the Middle East once said to me that as he travels the world and meets new people, he has reached the conclusion that all people from all nations are basically good.  Is he right?  It is very tempting to sometimes think that.  Does the devil want us to think that because it reduces the need for the cross?  Of course, we only need to consider the plight of persecuted minorities (including Christians) around the world today to realise that not everyone is good.  But is there also something fundamentally wrong with all of us?  In the Bible passage from John’s Gospel assigned to this week, Jesus tackles this question head on.  He says, “Now is the time for judgement on this world.”  Clearly there would be no need for judgement if everything and everyone was indeed ‘good’.  If we are too much in love with ‘this world’ with its shallow values, corruption and injustices, then Jesus’ warning to us is a stark reminder to change.  As citizens of heaven our eternal home is elsewhere, and we should focus on those values, not ‘worldly’ values.  However, as always with Jesus, there is hope, even in this corrupted world.  He goes onto say that when he is lifted up (onto a cross), all people will be drawn to him.  Praise God for this indescribable sacrifice.  The power of the cross is as strong as ever and while people are not basically good, in Christ, they can become so.