Late Night with Jesus: Why Would God Let Us In?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Ever wonder how John 3:16 got to be the verse of choice for guys who like to hold up signs with Bible verses at sporting events? Mostly, it’s because it’s the whole mind-blowing good news of Jesus in a one-sentence nutshell.

latenight_350And the message was radical. Jesus had been explaining to Nicodemus that a spiritual rebirth was required to see God, that belief in the Son of Man was required to have eternal life. And then, in an instant, he swivels the whole conversation to focus on God’s motive for allowing such a marvelous, preposterous thing.

God loved the whole world.

More tomorrow.

Think: Have you looked at the world much? Does it surprise you that God loves us all, loved us enough to do something enormously costly to be with us?

Pray: Thank God that he loves you, that he loves the whole world.

Do: Make a giant sign with “John 3:16” on it. Buy a ticket to a major sporting event at a spot in the stands likely to get a lot of camera time. Hold it up! Or, you know, find your own way to pass on the message of this verse.