Breaking the Word

No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And 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." 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (Jn 3:13-17)

Jesus has come down from heaven. Since he has come down from heaven he would have to go up. Coming down and going up have significance in John’s Gospel. They have theological purposes. Coming down was not to condemn the world. It was to save the world. God sent his son into the world to because he loved the world. Go so loved the world that he was ready even to sacrifice his son.

Jesus will go up to heaven. He will go up because he has come down. It is all because he is the son of God. As son of God he has his place in heaven. His coming down and going up have reference only with regard to heaven, the place of God. His sojourn on the earth is time bound and motivated by a purpose. Purpose is to save the world.

Between this coming down and going up (while he is on this earth) there is lifting up (on the cross). This is the purpose and the mission for which he has come down. This lifting up links both his coming down and going up. If the mission is not completed (being lifted up) then his coming down will have no purpose and there is no reason for his going up. Salvation of the people is the only purpose. 

Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited his people." This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region. (Lk 7:11-17)

Jesus was accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd of people. The large crowd went behind him because he has done many miracles and he said many things about the kingdom. The crowd was satisfied with his work and saying and also they wanted to hear more about the kingdom and they wanted to see more miracles. They wanted to be identified with him or one among his followers.

Another large crowd from the city was with the mother of the dead man. Here the crowd went after her to identify themselves with her in her suffering. They went to mourn with her. They went to sympathise with her. Here the crowd had a different purpose. But the evangelist says that this also was a large crowd. Two large crowds meet at the city gate.

Usually the city gate is the place of meeting. There would always be crowds of people. Tow large crowds with different purposes also meet. At this point of meeting Jesus moved with pity raised the dead man. Even at the place of meeting of crowds Jesus goes after the most needy. There were people with various needs and wants. Jesus chooses the most needy always and helps. This news spreads all over.