16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV)
If you’re a Christian, you will undoubtedly know this verse
very well. It may well be the first verse you ever memorized. Actually many in
our world today, who don’t even know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, have probably
heard this verse; it’s so widely known.
My devotional today encouraged me to read it as though it
was the first time I had ever seen it (why don’t you pause here and do likewise
– read it like it’s completely new to you). What an amazing verse? What is the gospel that I preach, ‘John 3v16’; it’s all there isn’t it!
For God… The creator of all life, the Almighty God, the one who we can all know as ‘our God’.
so loved the world… Warts and all, God loves this world; the good and the bad parts of it, God loves this world. Those that mess up, like me! Those that get it right, God loves them all!
that He gave… God wasn’t forced into anything, He wasn’t blackmailed. No one had Him over a barrel. God, our God gave; He made a choice to give something so incredibly precious, not just for those in the world who are good, but for all of us.
His only Son… Some of us haven’t been blessed with having children yet; I would like a child. Our God had one; He had a son, and He gave Him to die on a cross for each and every one of us.
that whoever believes in him... Key word here is ‘believe’. It doesn’t say ‘whoever earned or deserved. Believe - we’re called to believe in Jesus. It’s not that hard to believe in things really; I believe in my football team (AFC Wimbledon), I believe they’re the greatest football team ever!! Believing in things isn’t hard; it’s a choice one makes. We’re invited to believe in Jesus.
should not perish… Does this mean we won’t die? Answer: We die, we all die, but death isn’t final. Death is like the metamorphosis from one existence to another.
but have eternal life… Life with no end isn’t something that all people would consider a good thing. But we’re not talking about life as we know it, in the here and now. We’re talking about life with Jesus, in a place of incredible perfection. Life where one can fully realise that for which one was created for.
Did you read this incredible verse anew today?
How has God spoken to you?