John 3:16, I think we sometimes overlook this verse because it is very basic. For most, it was the first verse you memorized. I actually have it memorized in Spanish! Well, let me qualify that. My daddy taught it to me in Spanish and I have since learned that his command of the Spanish language was not always the best!

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but instead have everlasting life.” 

There is just so much in that verse, no matter what language you are using. If we broke it down to today’s way of talking, we would say, “God, who created everything and everyone, loved the world that He created so very much that He didn’t want the people to die in sin. This One who loved us so much chose His Son, His very own Son to come down to earth to live as a man, and to grow and proclaim the message of salvation. God knew full well what would happen to His Son. But He loved us so much that He gave Him anyway to die on a cross in order that we might have life eternal with Him.”

There you have it. The picture of love, sacrifice, and salvation. The picture of grace and mercy. The picture of God. When I was working at the school, I often thought that if anyone broke in and said, “I am either going to kill you or one of these students.” I would, without hesitation, tell him to kill me, but spare the lives of the kids. However, if the situation were different, and the killer said I will either kill your child or one of these students, I can’t say for sure what my response would be. I think I would give my life for any kid, any time, anywhere. But, would I give my child’s life as a sacrifice to save others? I am not so sure. That is a much harder question. None of us like to see our children suffer in any way at all.

God didn’t like it either. I think that at this point in the life of Jesus, He was very much man and not God. He was very much God’s true Son dreading what was before Him, but knowing this was the day for which He came.

When I think of this sacrifice that was so great, I am just overwhelmed with the immenseness of the love of God for me. And for you. I think about this verse and I feel that true sense of urgency that we must reach the world for Jesus. We are surrounded by people who don’t know the first thing about God’s love or the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We have to get busy! We don’t know what day is our last.

What are you doing to reach the world around you for Jesus? Get busy. Get urgent about it! Now is the time. Today is the day to make a difference in someone’s life for all eternity.

By: Gina Caswell Kelly