3:16 appears frequently on placards and t-shirts at sports events. Sparked by WWE’s champion, Stone Cold Steve Austin, boasting of his dominance (1990s), over ten million ‘Austin 3:16’ t-shirts have sold – quite a merchandising success!
More recently a venture between World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the Toronto Maple Leafs resulted in the ‘Auston 3:16’ t-shirt. Hope is that ‘piggy-backing’ AUSTIN and AUSTON will pay off _as long as superstar Auston Matthews plays for the Leafs (!).
3:16 has a recognized significance. It speaks to us of an overcomer with proven ability to bring ultimate victory. We owe this, not to Austin or Auston, but to a guy name JOHN.
John records Jesus in John 3:16 as He offers HOPE to team-world:
“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.”
This addresses our deepest questions about God’s LOVE:
1. “WHO loved us?”
ANSWER: the God who exists, the ‘Living God’, our Creator, and the Sustainer of all things. He “SO” loves us! Daily mercies and blessings reveal how mindful of us He is. He looks to save ME and YOU.
2. “HOW has He loved us?”
ANSWER: In history (2000+ years ago) He sent His Son, Jesus, from heaven to earth – to US!
At His birth we hear, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people…a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” God’s GIFT to us is reflected in our giving at Christ-mas.
Further, it is recorded, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared.”
On the CROSS Jesus suffered the death-penalty we should suffer for our sins. “God SO loved [me and you] that He gave His one and only Son” to die as our substitute. Historically, Jesus overcame death on our behalf. Jesus’ suffering reveals the extent of God’s love for us.
3. “WHY has He loved us?”
ANSWER: He wants us to live with Him. Jesus’ rescue mission makes personal forgiveness and salvation from eternal death possible. Righteousness is required for entrance to Heaven; only a relationship with Jesus credits this to us.
God promises, “that whoever believes in (Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life.” Belief in Jesus means we affirm WHO He is (God’s Son / God – He is Lord), and WHAT He did (rose from the dead, as He said He would). Belief brings us to willingly trust Him; through prayer we ask Him for forgiveness of our sins, and ask Jesus to be our Savior.
Those who BELIEVE Him RECEIVE Him. John records, “To all who received (Jesus), to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) What a GIFT!
3:16 speaks of Jesus’ ability to win the battle over sin and death for us. Perhaps our t-shirt should read, “JESUS 3:16”. I believe Him!
“Are you with me?”
Pastor Bill Terris