My Father’s love

“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

Almost anyone who is familiar with Christianity is aware of this verse. Most Christians have it memorised. This verse is undoubtedly the most well-known verse in the entire Bible. It is, after all, the foundation of the Christian faith.

The verse is so popular, that you can even find it on the bottom of Forever 21 shopping bags. Tim Tebow, the quarterback for the Denvor Broncos, even wore the scripture passage on his eye black during the 2009 National Championship Game, causing John 3:16 to be reportedly Googled more than 90 million times.

Unfortunately for us, this verse has been used so much that most of us aren’t in awe of the truth behind it anymore, which we should be.

“GOD so LOVED the WORLD that He GAVE His only begotten SON…”

He so loved the world – us – that He was willing to send His ONLY Son to die for us.

I know that’s a little hard to think about, considering how often we’ve actually heard this preached to us. But here’s something – we’re so used to this verse, that we forget whose lips these words are coming from – Jesus, the Son Himself.

Do you see what’s happening here? Jesus is talking about His own Father’s heart.

“It is Jesus who says the words. Look at them again –

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”

He’s saying, “Guys! I know my Dad. I know His heart. He loves you all SO much, that He couldn’t stand the thought of you being separated from Him, living in torment, living in any less than the joy He has planned for you.

I know my Dad. I know His heart. He loves you so much, that He sent Me so that I could die in your place and take the punishment instead of you…

I know my Dad. He wants you to know He loves you, and I love you. I’ve come here to die for you.”

Can you imagine a man telling you that his father loves you so much that he would be willing to send his son to die for you? And can you imagine the son agreeing?

But that’s exactly what happened here.

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“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father”

John 10:18