For God So Loved....

In all of the Bible, John 3:16 is likely the most well-known verse. It's also the one that has been drawn into popular culture more than any other. We see it promoted at sports events. we see 3:16 tattooed on biceps and waved on signs at protests.  The text fully deserves this prominence. It is powerful, it summarizes God's love for the creation and the extent to which God will go to reconcile a fallen world. 

In his commentary on John, Dale Bruner points out that he once saw John 3:16 laid out as follows as a way to highlight the amazing power in this most famous of Bible verses:

“God ……………………………………………………………The greatest subject ever
So (much)…………………………………………………….. The greatest extent ever
Loved………………………………………………………….. The greatest affection ever
The world (kosmos)…………………………………………. The greatest object ever
That He gave His One-and-Only Son,…………………….. The greatest gift ever
So that every single individual, whoever, …………………..The greatest opportunity ever
Who is [simply] entrusting oneself to him…………………. The greatest commitment ever
Would never be destroyed, ………………………………….The greatest rescue ever
“But would even now have a deep, lasting Life.” ………….The greatest promise ever

The verses around this famous one, describe how Jesus, that one, and only son, will be lifted up, not only on the cross but all the way up to heaven, to make this reconciliation possible, to bring light into the world. 

This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent, we will spend time reveling in God's love, recognizing that Jesus has been lifted up for all of us to see and to find life through him.