John 3:16
The Living Message of Hope
There are all type of messages. Some are crystal clear while others are, say, a little muddy or murky. Here are a few of my favorites:
Introduction – Answering Machine Message
These are actual answering machine answers recorded and verified by the world-famous International Institute of Answering Machine Answers
*Hello, you are talking to a machine. I am capable of receiving messages. My owners do not need siding, windows, or a hot tub, and their carpets are clean. They give to charity through their office and do not
need their picture taken. If you’re still with me, leave your name and number and they will get back to you
*Hi. I am probably home. I’m just avoiding someone I don’t like. Leave me a message, and if I don’t call back, it’s you.
*Hi, this is George. I’m sorry I can’t answer the phone right now. Leave a message, and then wait by your phone until I call you back.
But my all-time favorite is:
*A College student had the following message on his dorm answering machine: "Hi! This is Dustin! If it’s the phone company, I sent the money. If it’s Mom or Dad, please send money. If it’s the financial office, you didn’t loan me enough money. If it’s my girlfriend, leave a message-- and don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of money!”
Messages are necessary for us to communicate. None are as clear as the message God recorded for us through the Apostle John which is found in John 3:16. In this passage we will discover four prominent messages.
John 3:16 is a simple yet profound message of love, hope and relationships. I believe that is why we can call this passage a…
A SIMPLE MESSAGE
For God so loved the world…
It is a simple message because He is the great CREATOR.
God the Father created all things for His glory. In fact, Philippians tells us that “All things were made by Him.” We were created to honor and glorify Him. He wants us to know and worship Him.
We also find that He is the great COMMUNICATOR.
Jesus said that if “you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”
For many, Ronald Reagan was America’s greatest communicator. He could not hold a candle to Jesus, the greatest communicator. Jesus’ stories were attention grabbing. They were profound, deep and mind-boggling! He could hold everyone’s attention and make people understand. Even those with A.D.D. could focus on His words.
In these simple messages, He is also the great COMFORTER.
The Holy Spirit, the One called alongside, is the great comforter. He helps us to see and hear clearly the simple message God has for us.
Illustration – John 3.16 Message
A pastor was called to a new church. The first Sunday the pastor was there, his message was taken from John 3:16. The message was entitled, "How to Be Born Again." The message was well received, but no decisions were made. The second Sunday, the pastor’s message was taken from John 3:16 and was entitled "How to Be Born Again." Again, no decisions were made. The third Sunday, the pastor’s sermon was taken from John 3:16 and was entitled "How to Be Born Again." Again, no decisions were made. By this time, the deacons were worried about what was happening—he just kept preaching the same sermon over and over and over again. So, they called a special meeting with the pastor to discuss his choice of sermons. One deacon said, "Don’t you have any more sermons?" The new pastor responded, "Yes, I have plenty of sermons. However, I am going to keep preaching this sermon until you get it right. Then, I will move on to something else."
Every Sunday, there ought to be simple messages preached across America and around the world about a God who still loves us. It is Charles Spurgeon who says, “God is infinite in knowledge, infinite in power, infinite in duration, and infinite in love.” God reveals His immeasurable love by saving us through His grace!
Not only do we see that it is a simple message but it is also a
A SATISFYING MESSAGE
That He gave His only begotten Son…
This message is satisfying because it does four things.
We find this message satisfying because Jesus is my
SUBSTITUTION. Jesus died for MY sin, not His own. Romans 5:8 clearly states, “God demonstrates His own love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He became my substitute on the cross. What I deserved, He took for me.
We also find this message satisfying because He is my PROPITIATION. This simple means that God was appeased and turned away the wrath I deserved because Jesus died for me. Jesus satisfied the requirements of God by a perfect sacrifice. 2 John 2:2 says, “He Himself is our propitiation.”
Jesus is also my RECONCILIATION. He has restored my relationship with God. He has justified me in His eyes through His Son’s death. What Adam lost in the garden, Jesus has reconciled with the Father when each person repents and commits his life into His hands.
Because of what Jesus accomplished, it is revealed through REGENERATION. This is what Jesus discusses with Nicodemus in John 3:3. For one to be born again, he MUST be born from above. It is not an earthly experience but a spiritual one. To be born once you will die twice, but to be born twice you will only die once.
Illustration – Message Clear
In his book “Winning With People” author John Maxwell tells this story, “Three sons left home to make their fortunes and did very well. One day, the three competitive brothers got back together to discuss the gifts that they were giving their elderly mother.
The first said, “I built a big house for mother.”
The second said, “I got her a Mercedes with a driver.”
“I’ve got you both beat,” said the third. “You know how Mom enjoys the Bible, and you know she can’t see very well. I sent her a brown parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty monks in a monastery twelve years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 a year for ten years for them to train him, but it was worth it. Mom just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it.
Soon afterward, their mother sent out her letters of thanks. To the first son, she wrote, “Milton, the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house.”
To the second son, she wrote, “Marty, I am too old to travel. I stay home all the time, so I never use the Mercedes. And the driver is so rude!”
To the third son, her message was softer: “Dear Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken was delicious.” (Maxwell, pg.74-75).
God has delivered a message to each of us through His Son and had it transcribed in the Word of God you hold in your hands. Believe it and trust it! God reveals His indescribable righteousness by providing us a satisfying message.
God’s message is a satisfying and simple message as well as a
A SAVING MESSAGE
That whosoever believes in Him should not perish…
This saving message does three things for you.
It saves you from the PENALTY of sin. You will not have to pay the price for your sins as described in Romans 6:23. You have been forgiven from your sin. Jesus paid the price. It does NOT give you a license to continue living in sin. It does give you the freedom to live a life for Him!
It also saves you from the POWER of sin. Sin no longer reigns over your choices. You are now able to resist the temptation of sins. You do not have to succumb to them. You will sin whether in thought or actions. However, you do not have to lie in the sewer and stay there. God has given you the Holy Spirit to overcome sin.
And finally, it saves you from the PRESENCE of sin. This is our ultimate desire. We will stand in the presence of Jesus and will not have the lingering effects of sin. While on earth, we still struggle with sin, but in heaven sin ain’t there!
Illustration – How I want to go
An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his Doctor and his Lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling.
For a time, no one said anything. Both the doctor and lawyer were touched and flattered that the old preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moment. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness and their avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats.
Finally the doctor said, ‘Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?’ The old preacher mustered up some strength, then said weakly, ‘Jesus died between two thieves and that’s how I want to go too’.
God can not stand the presence of sin. When we enter His presence, sin will not be there. God reveals His infinite holiness by abolishing the penalty, power and presence of sin.
Finally, as God’s message is a saving, satisfying and simple message, we also find it
A SIGNIFICANT MESSAGE
But have everlasting life.
It is a significant message because
It’s a PASSIONATE message. God loves His creation. He wants to commune with us. But the stench of sin repulses Him. He has a “git r done” mentality. He wants His creation to pursue Him through Jesus. He did His part so we can do ours.
We also find that it’s a PERSONAL message. I like that part. He wants me to know Him. My name is inscribed in the Lambs Book of Life because Jesus did the work and I accepted the invitation.
Then it’s a POWERFUL message. It’s powerful because our attitude, outlook and perspective changes. It’s not about me…it’s about Him! I can enjoy life to it’s fullest because He has changed things.
And finally, we see that it’s a PROFITABLE message! Eternal life is qualitative more than quantitative. We can never imagine what Jesus is preparing for us according John 14:1-3. It will be outstanding because He does ALL things well.
Illustration – Children leave gift of love @ funeral
The Rev. Harry Pritchett Jr. is rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta. His church includes specific ministries for the poor, for street people, for college students. It is Pritchett who called my attention to a boy named Philip.
He was 9 – in a Sunday school class of 8-year-olds. Eight-year-olds can be cruel. The third-graders did not welcome Philip into their group. Not just because he was older. He was “different.”
He suffered Down’s syndrome and its obvious manifestations: facial characteristics, slow responses, symptoms of retardation.
One Sunday after Easter the Sunday school teacher gathered some of those plastic eggs that pull apart in the middle—the kind in which some ladies’ pantyhose are packaged. The Sunday school teacher gave one of these plastic eggs to each child.
On that beautiful spring day each child was to go outdoors and discover for himself some symbol of “new life” and place that symbolic seed or leaf or whatever inside his egg. They would then open their eggs one by one, and each youngster would explain how his find was a symbol of “new life.”
So…
The youngsters gathered ‘round on the appointed day and put their eggs on a table, and the teacher began to open them.
One child found a flower. All the children “oohed” and “aahed” at the lovely symbol of new life.
In another was a butterfly. “Beautiful,” the girls said. And it’s not easy for an 8-year-old to say “beautiful.”
Another egg was opened to reveal a rock. Some of the children laughed. “That’s crazy!” one said. “How’s a rock supposed to be like a ‘new life’?” Immediately a little boy spoke up and said, “That’s mine. I knew everybody would get flowers and leaves and butterflies and all that stuff, so I got a rock to be different.” Everyone laughed.
The teacher opened the last one, and there was nothing inside. “That’s not fair,” someone said. “That’s stupid,” said another. Teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Philip. Looking up he said, “It’s mine. I did do it. It’s empty. I have new life because the tomb is empty.” The class fell silent.
From that day on Philip became a part of the group. They welcomed him. Whatever had made him different was never mentioned again.
Philip’s family had known he would not live a long life: just too many things wrong with the tiny body. That summer, overcome by infection, Philip died.
One the day of his funeral nine 8-year-old boy and girls confronted the reality of death and marched up to the altar—not with flowers. Nine children with their Sunday school teacher placed on the casket of their friend their gift of love—an empty egg. (Paul Harvey)
For the believer, Resurrection Sunday is a significant message! The tomb is empty! We have everlasting life because He took my place on the cross that I might have an everlasting relationship with Him. It’s not just the quantity of life but the quality of life the moment I repent of my sins and commit my life to Him. It is at this moment that God reveals His unfathomable grace!
For the unbeliever, the message still doesn’t make sense. Trust God. He has done His part to make us acceptable…it’s YOUR turn now!
