God So Loved

Jesus was always making radical pronouncements. Here in John 3:13-15 He proclaims He has come from heaven, and not only that, but proclaims His future death. The Amplified says it best, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert on a pole, so must the Son of Man be lifted up (on the cross).”  And then comes verse 16, the verse we all love, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

What a pronouncement! Jesus knew His destiny, His purpose. And boldly states it here. His crucifixion was no accident. It was planned from the foundation of the world. And it was to be no small accomplishment, either. It would accomplish nothing less than the salvation of perishing mankind!

Though Jesus couldn’t be any clearer in His statements in John, His disciples just didn’t get it. Not really. Not then anyway. That came much later. In the same way, so many people still don’t get it. They don’t understand who Jesus is and why He came. They say He’s a good man, a good teacher, nothing more. But then how do they explain Jesus’ statement in John 3:17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might find salvation through Him”? No “good” man would ever declare such a thing because no man, no teacher, no matter how good can save the world. Only God Himself coming down in the flesh could accomplish that.

So why doesn’t the world love Jesus? After He gave so much? After He did so much for us? The Bible gives us that answer too. It tells us that Satan has blinded mankind. “In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

So next time you witness to someone you love, bath it in prayer first, and be patient and kind because, just like we were once blinded, they are still blinded by Satan, and he  will fight tooth and nail to keep them from coming into the Truth. But the one thing Satan keeps underestimating is that the kind of love God offers is more than able to pierce the darkness Satan tries to create.

Until next time,

Sylvia