“John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Most of us read and know it by heart, yet many times we get turned around and can’t think of it. It’s one of the most familiar verses in history. Psalm 23 is the most well-known chapter, and John 3:13 is the most well-known verse. We learned it as a child, but it is the least realized verse. It’s the most common thing to the average person, and 99% of the time it is treated as such. It is anything and everything but common. It’s like the blood our body needs to keep us alive; it’s the embodiment of our soul. We needed John 3:16 in the past, and we need it now. It’s every answer to our problems and needs. The truth in this verse is enough even without the rest of the Bible. In fact, every book from Genesis to Revelation is centered around it. It’s the epicenter of the whole book.
Because we know it so well, we tend to overlook the deep and necessary significance of what Jesus teaches. We remember it, but in what way? What does it say? It’s the verse for every sinner and its medicine for the child of God. We know what it means to be saved. Tomorrow is worth reaching for because of what it teaches and gives us.
Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He was a member of the Sanhedrin. He was a spiritual teacher and well versed in the word of God, but he wanted to know the truth of what Jesus was saying. It stirred his soul. He had done all he could; he was so close to the word, yet something was missing.
When Nicodemus came to Jesus he said “we know that thou art a teacher come from God.” In turn Jesus said “art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” In other words, why don’t you know the truth? We read the Bible and say things over and over. When we read John 3, a lot of times we’ll skip over verse 16. Don’t ever skip over it. Should we know it? Yes! Do we refer to it? Yes. Do we know it gives us life? It has gotten us through and will get us through if we realize what we’re talking about. Today is different than yesterday; that’s why we need it again today.
Jesus didn’t pause before he said it. A Politician will noticeably pause when he or she thinks a grand statement in their speech is coming. Jesus didn’t pause. He didn’t say it like it’s a nursery rhyme. He matter-of-factually stated this to someone who should have known but didn’t. Let’s not consider it as a favorite verse learned in Sunday school. It’s the very essence of our spiritual life.
Nicodemus came to confess his ignorance? He said “how can these things be?” Eye to eye with Jesus, the words are spoken. Jesus didn’t say “Nicodemus, don’t you know there is a God?” He was not trying to prove the existence of God; Nicodemus already knew that. He speaks of God’s existence as an established fact..” For God..” How far do we believe in God? Do we believe in bad times? Don’t doubt God’s existence. Whether you believe it or not God is always your God. If a person rejects God and his love and goes to hell, he still had a God. He’s real. Never ask God to prove himself to you. God needs no proof. Maybe we need to show proof that we believe.
Because he’s God and so loved the world he gave. “World” means every individual from Adam to the end of time. God could have written us off and with good reason. Who do we think we are to fuss and ask God to prove himself? He proved he loves us with all his being. He still does it today, as much as he ever has. In our final heartbeat God will still love us. Verse 16 says he SO loved us.
Remember the love notes you used to write with all the “I love you more than….?” There is never a “loves me not” with God. He SO loved he gave. When we love someone we give the best we can to show it to the recipient. God has multiplies of everything, but he has only one son, and he gave him to us. He did it willing without asking our permission. He knew we would treat Jesus, and still gave him to us. He gave to the greatest degree not only FOR us but TO us. We should feel privileged. Embrace it. We may matter little to others, but to God we’re everything. The proof is in his son. We have love in the presence of the true God that gave us our shepherd, our conqueror, and our best friend.
“Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It’s the difference between perishing and life. Whether life makes us or breaks us, we have Jesus. We have read and read it. Even if you’re lost, John 3:16 is familiar enough to have saved you a million times. We have all we need to make it. Why was all this done? So we can be saved? Yes. But so we could believe and know God. Remember verse 10. “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” Because of our familiarity we think the word of God might not be enough. Think again. We don’t think much about water until we’re without it. Jesus is the living water, and when we come to him we’ll never thirst again.
It’s time to get serious with John 3:16. It’s time to know it IN OUR HEART not just by heart. It’s exactly what we need.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 