HOST: Michael Whitworth
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
“The golden text of the Bible.” That is the label that many have attached to John 3:16. That short verse does contain the core message of God’s Word—that God loved us so much that He was willing to give His Son for us to die in our place so that we could be saved. Every facet of that verse amazes and overwhelms us as we consider our desperate need that required such a great sacrifice, the limitless love of God that motivated Him to give the very best of heaven for us, and the wonderful promise that is made to us because of that gift. It is truly an amazing thought! And yet, even as we savor those great truths, we are reminded by Jesus that many in the world will love darkness, rather than light, and will reject the greatest gift ever offered to them. But knowing that many would not accept Him, Jesus still came and died anyway, even for them. I am not sure that any of us can truly comprehend the depth of God’s love or the greatness of the sacrifice that was offered for us. Thanks be to God!
Why do you think so many are unwilling to accept Jesus?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
