The way of imagination

“For this is the way God loved the world : He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3.16 NET) This is the story St. John is telling us in his Gospel – this is the way God loved the world.   The Creator sent his Word – the Word through which He had spoken all things into existence (cf. Gn. 1.1-2.3; Jn. 1.1-2, 14, 18) – into the world as a human being, Jesus of Nazareth, Israel’s true King and God’s only Son (cf. Jn. 1.49).   The theological term for this is the INCARNATION.   “The Word (of God) became flesh ” (Jn. 1.14).   God sent his Son into the world to do what only God could do – as a human being – in order to save the world from sin and death (Jn. 3.17). This is why Jesus is such a big deal.   Jesus is not just another religious leader.   During the last supper, Jesus said to Philip, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14.9).   Jesus said, “I AM the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14.6).   Je