Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (Jn 3:36 ESV)

The world-famous tightrope walker Charles Blondin staged a feat of his skill by suspending a rope 160 feet above Niagara Falls. After crossing the Falls several times with various props, he finally pushed a wheelbarrow while blindfolded. He addressed the stunned onlooking crowd with two questions. First, he asked if the crowed believed he could push a person across the span in the wheelbarrow. The crowd responded with a resounding, yes. Then he asked his second question, “Who will get in?”

The Greek word for belief used in the first part of John 3:36 can be interpreted also as “trust.” This form of trust is related to duty and has a nuance of obedience. This nuanced relationship makes the second part of the verse, “whoever does not obey,” seem more fitting. In combination, these two words create a literary parallel that places a strong emphasis on the Biblical understanding that belief in God and, in turn, Jesus is not simply a conceptual belief, but requires obedience.

It is also the same word Jesus used in his conversation with Nicodemus in Jn 3:16. The fourth Evangelist uses another literary parallel, this time emphasizing the connection between belief in the Son and eternal life. Jesus offers eternal life to anyone who believes in him, but do not deceive yourself. Jesus doesn’t ask us to only say we believe; he requires us to go all in.

In Christ,

Chappy