Written in Red
How in the world do you unpack the most well known, most loved verses in the whole Bible? John 3:16 is the gospel in it’s simplest form.
If the whole of scripture were to some how disappear except for this one beloved verse, there is enough contained in this reference to lead “whosoever” to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
Writers, preachers, and speakers alike often neglect this verse because, in their minds, it has become common and overused. Just because something is simple does not mean it is common.
Anybody remember the guy that wore the rainbow wig and John 3:16 t-shirt at major sporting events in the 70’s and 80’s?
More recently Tim Tebow wore eye black with John 3:16 inscribed in it during the 2009 BCS championship game. Google got millions of hits when fans googled the reference. Amazingly, 3 years to date later when Tebow played in his first NFL game, ESPN reported Tebow threw for 316 yards and averaged 31.6 yards per completion!
That blows my mind – MILLIONS had to google what John 3:16 means. I so often assume people know the simple truth of this scripture and do not need me throwing around such an ordinary verse. Shame on me.
The little adverb “so” glosses over what Jesus willingly went through to save our scrawny necks. The story behind the “so” is the story of Jesus’s beating, public humiliation, and a bloody death on a cruel cross. God’s love for all of us was written in red – the red blood of Jesus.
Yes…God SO loved the world.
Valentine’s day is coming and we will see and hear themes of LOVE everywhere. But God’s love, agape love, is a very unique and rare kind. It is a love that is self-sacrificing and unconditional. It’s the kind of love the invites you to come as you are.
So if no one has ever shared with you the simple truth of the gospel contained in John 3:16, here you go…
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
That’s it. No commentary or Greek word study needed. If you want to get to know this God who loves you so, please contact me and we will settle it today!
Hear Tim Tebow’s story for yourself!
