For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NKJV)
Bob Burton
There is an abundance to search out concerning this well-known verse. Martin Luther described it as “the Gospel in miniature.” If you were to stay in a hotel and pick up a Gideon Bible from the nightstand, you would find John 3:16 translated into 27 different languages in the front pages. You might have heard of Rollen Stewart, who in the 1980s positioned himself at sports events wearing a rainbow wig and holding a sign saying “3:16” to get the message seen on television. Tim Tebow, the Florida Gators quarterback, famously wore eye black with “John 3:16” during a championship game in 2009, prompting 94 million Google searches for “316.” Author Max Lucado referred to these as the numbers of hope.
In Bible study, understanding the context of a verse is crucial. In John chapter two, Jesus turns water into wine, drives out the moneychangers from the temple, and people “follow” Him because of the miracles. John writes, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man (John 2:23-25).” Then, you see Nicodemus, a Pharisee, seeking a private meeting with Jesus at night.
What makes John 3:16 such good news is the bad news which is seen in the context of this conversation with Nicodemus.
Here are the things in the context of John 3:16 listed as bad news:
- The reality is that Jesus knows you including the good, the bad, and the ugly (John 2:23-25; Hebrews 4:13).
- Relying on religion will leave you empty, as salvation cannot be achieved through religious works (John 3:1-11; Ephesians 2:8-10).
- We are born into sin, inheriting an Adamic nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3), making the new birth absolutely essential for entering heaven (John 3:3, 5).
- There is no stairway to heaven you can climb to reach God; there is a dire need for God to come down to you (John 3:12-13).
- Apart from Jesus, everyone is “snakebit” with a lethal sin problem (John 3:14-15).
- Every unbeliever is self-condemned by their love for darkness and their evil deeds (John 3:17-20).
- The wrath of God abides upon every unbeliever (John 3:36).
- Apart from Jesus, you are perishing and will perish eternally in hell (John 3:16).
This context provides us with a litany of bad news, but it sets the stage for THE good news. An unknown author penned these beautiful words,
- “For God”…The greatest Lover
- “So loved”…The greatest degree
- “The world”…The greatest number
- “That He gave”…The greatest act
- “His only begotten Son”…The greatest gift
- “That whosoever”…The greatest invitation
- “Believeth”…The greatest simplicity
- “In Him”…The greatest Person
- “Should not perish”…The greatest deliverance
- “But”….The greatest difference
- “Have”….The greatest certainty
- “Everlasting Life”…The greatest possession
My prayer is that you’ll never treat John 3:16 as a moralistic, therapeutic, sentimental Bible verse. Appreciate God’s response to the bad news. Rejoice in the good news because Jesus came down to our level so you could go to heaven. Look at Jesus the Savior who was lifted high upon the cross, and when you do, you’ll be healed from the curse of the snakebite of sin. Jesus absorbed the Father’s wrath, the curse of sin, and bore the condemnation for you on Calvary’s Cross.
It’s good news, indeed the best news ever! You can be born again! Turn from your sin and call out to Jesus. Remember without faith in Jesus, you are numbered among the perishing and with true belief in Him, you have everlasting life that begins the moment you believe. Share this glorious gospel in a nutshell but always remember that context matters.
Celebrate the good news of 3:16!
-Bob Burton is the Associational Mission Strategist at Salem South Baptist Association.