It’s that time of the year when everyone around the world remembers/ celebrates the death & resurrection of our saviour either by easter egg hunts, going to services or just relaxing during the break. Oh yeah I only just found out that eating hot cross buns was an easter tradition and Jamaicans celebrate Good Friday with fried fish. Haha.. guess you are always learning new things.  But what does this season mean to you specifically?

About 4 years ago I read a book about all the 3:16s in the new testament, it was a great read so I thought it was only right to share what I learnt. In this post I will speak specifically about the verse that encapsulates the gospel : John 3:16 then in subsequent posts I hope to share the other 3:16s with you.

Let me start with a question, Who was the initial recipient of this sentence? It was, Nicodemus, a troubled Pharisee who had come to Jesus in the middle of the night probably because he was afraid or ashamed to be with seen with Jesus. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again, however he did not understand how this could happen. Then Jesus gave him a fundamental element of the goodness of God and the ultimate gateway to Heaven; 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. 

Here are the basics of John 3:16 (J.H):

God	The Author
So loved	The Measure
The World	The Object
Whoever believes should not perish	The Purpose
Have eternal life	The Ultimate Result

This analysis also shows why John 3:16 is classed as the greatest  (Anon):

God	The greatest lover/giver
So loved	The greatest motive
The World	The greatest number
That he gave	The greatest act
His only begotten son	The greatest gift
That whoever	The greatest invitation
Believes	The greatest DECISION
In him	The greatest attraction
Should not perish	The greatest promise
But	The greatest difference
Have	The greatest certainty
Eternal life	The greatest possession

and my favourite The Triune (Trinity) God in John 3:16 (Anon).

God	Ruler	Micah 5:2
So	benefactor	Psalm 68:19
Loved	Lover	1 John 4:8-10
The	Creator	Genesis 1:1
World	Maker	Psalm 95:6
That	Purpose	Ephesians 3:11
He	Governor	Matthew 2:6
Gave	Giver	1 Timothy 6:17
His	Father	Isaiah 9:6
Only	Saviour	Luke 2:11
Begotten	Mediator	1 Timothy 2:5
Son	Redeemer	Job 19:25
That	Intercessor	Isaiah 53:12
Whoever	Provider	Genesis 22:8
Believes	Counsellor	Isaiah 9:6
In	Revealer	Daniel 2:22
Him	Messenger	Malachi 3:1
Should	Commander	Isaiah 55:4
Not	Comforter	John 14:26
Perish	Deliverer	Romans 11:26
But	Restorer	Ruth 4:15
Have	Bestower	Isaiah 63:7
Eternal	Keeper	Psalm 121:5
Life	Preserver	Psalm 28:8

Beautiful, right? So once again what does this easter season mean to you? Do you recognise that you’ve been given the greatest promise (shall not perish) to have the greatest possession (eternal life), by the greatest giver (God) who gave the greatest gift (life of his son)? What does this mean for you and me, saved or not, believer or not? – we are told to BELIEVE in Him.

To believe means much more than agreeing with the facts; it means personal commitment. You can believe that Barack Obama is a real person, but knowing that might not affect you personally. Similarly you can believe that Jesus lived over 2,000 years ago and died on the cross, and this may not affect your lifestlye. Believing that Jesus existed is not enough because even the devil believes {Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19}. We know that the devil will not be saved, but what makes our belief different from his? To truly believe In Him as specified in John 3:16, we don’t stop at believing Jesus Christ existed but we commit our lives to Him and trust that He is our LORD & SAVIOUR. The devil doesn’t believe that God can save him and that is a decision you and I can make that differs us from him. The greatest decision a person can make is to trust that only Christ can truly save him/her.

I will leave you with this verse from Hebrews 11:6 : And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Believing that God exists is only the beginning, He will not settle for your mere acknowledgement of his existence. He wants to have a personal, dynamic, life-transforming relationship with you. The reward of those who earnestly seek Him is the greatest possession we could ever be certain of having : Eternal life.

Stay Blessed,

Dara x