the other john 3:16

John 3:16 is possibly the most familiar verse in the Bible.

It is a simple statement of our faith, our hope.

We memorize it as children.

We see it held aloft at football games and on the sidelines of races.

Even those who don’t share our faith know something of what it means, or what it means to us.

It is basic, fundamental to who we are as believers.

The next verse is much less well known but makes clearer the meaning of its more well known predecessor.

A statement clarifying the purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection lest we get confused once we have been the recipients of his amazing grace.

He came not to accuse and sentence but make whole and bring home the lost.

But did you know there is another John 3:16 that speak just as fundamentally to who we are as Christ followers?

It’s in 1 John and it echoes John 3:16.

Not to be hating on John 3:16 or anything but I kind of wish we would all start memorizing this one (if not instead in addition to) it’s more famous counterpart.

Because what Christ did for us is the essence of love.

It reminds us how deeply we are loved and from the gracious security of this love we are free.

Free to live and be who we were created to be.

Free to love as recklessly as he loved us.

Even unto death.

And like the other 3:16 this one is followed by a verse that makes its meaning and purpose clearer.

This explains the love.

That love that would lay down its life.

That love that took Jesus to the cross, to make a way for us to be whole again calls us to make others whole again in every way we can.

If we have the means, the physical means to bring wholeness – to fill a hungry belly, to clothe a naked body, to hold an empty hand, to free a wrongfully imprisoned – and we do not, how can we say the love of God, a love that would not stop until it had given itself up to a horrible and tortuous death, is in us?

How can we claim a love that would lay down its life when we will not even lay down our wallets, our fancy cars, our second homes, our comfort and our privilege?

Maybe this is why we do not put this verse on signs and memorize it with as much alacrity.

It challenges our idea of God’s love.

Who is it for?

Me or the world?

Yes!

God loves you.

He died for you.

But it does not end there.

In both John verses God is clear.

He came to save the WORLD and we are to

lay down our lives

and

our possessions

for that world in need.

His love was made manifest on the cross.

Ours is to be made manifest everyday as we choose to follow him in loving those he has put in our lives with ALL of the resources he has graciously given us.