6/29/1958

Scripture: John 3: 1-17

Text: John 3: 16

The Gospel of John is a favorite among many readers of the New Testament. It is in some ways the simplest and yet the most profound book in the New Testament. It contains some of the most precious expressions of the faith. Late in the book, [John 17], there is the prayer of Our Lord for all of his disciples.

Earlier, in the 3rd chapter, there is found one verse which, to many, summarizes the heart of the Gospel. And so it is studied and memorized by hosts of Christians. And it is known to many non-Christian readers as well.

The very first memory assignment which I had as a child was to learn by heart John 3: 16 --- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Many of us in this room today have memorized that utterance, by rote learning, or through hearing it repeated, or sung, as in Stainer’s “The Crucifixion.” It is precious, not only because it is commonly known, but because it is so full of the meaning of our faith in Christ.

It is a moving study to note those portions of the Old Testament which Jesus knew and quoted --- and they are many. To examine the passages that appealed to him is like taking in reverent hands his own copy of the Scripture, turning the pages to note the places that he had marked. One such place is the story of Moses, lifting up the brazen serpent in the wilderness so that all of the stricken camp who looked upon its reminder should be healed of their plague. [Numbers 21: 9].

Jesus, in his conversation with Nicodemus, tells him that, just as that serpent was lifted up for the healing of the Hebrews in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up for the healing of all mankind. He very well knew that this ailing, foolish, sinful, desperate world had lost its way. Its barbarism was soon to put him to a shameful death. But being thus lifted up, people everywhere would be drawn to him in recognition of the saving grace of God to be found in his way.

It has always seemed strange that the voice of a crucified man, dying in agony, should be the one to convince innumerable hearts that God is love. Christ is most appealing and most irresistible at the point where all seemed lost for him. For it is hard to hold out against the appeal of one who himself went to such lengths to claim our hearts. In humble understanding, we look upon the suffering Son and exclaim, “This is the man to rule over us!”

The suffering Christ promises eternal life to those who believe in God. The expression “eternal life” is a favorite one with the writer of the fourth gospel. As he understands it, “eternal life” is a quality of life, more than a mere duration in time. Its fullness begins here and now for the believer. Whosoever “does the will of God abides forever.” It is the doing of His will that makes it eternal life for all time.

Scholars think that the account of Jesus’ interview with Nicodemus ends with the 15th verse. And from that point on, the evangelist is musing on the amazing implications of what Jesus has been saying.

“For God so loved the world.” Why should He love it? It is so filled with evil plottings, hateful attitudes and acts, careless selfishness, willful perversity. Why should He not just flood it out, or blow it up, or just turn His back upon it while people stew in the evil juices of their own brewing?

Yet, though God is just, and creative and omniscient, yet He is also love. And God so loved the world --- all of the world --- that He gave his only Son. His beloved Son came “not into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through him, might be saved.”

It is not simple to try to understand the love of God at this point. It is vaster and deeper than our understanding. But one has an inkling of what it is like when one thinks of those who, in time of terrible national emergency, bent every effort to save the nation, who gave a son, or sons, in the conflict and consoled their sorrow in the knowledge that the cause was good, and terribly important.

God gave His Son for the world -- for us -- for you and me. It appears that even when we are so wayward as to break the Father’s heart, He yet will not give us up! He will not let us go! He will try every way to redeem us! He has given His only Son for us!

That is the way with the God whose thoughts are not our thoughts but infinitely higher and greater than ours; whose ways are unimaginably higher than our ways. And yet He so loved us that he gave his Son for us!

Looking into the eyes of the one who was acquainted with grief, we find understanding and sharing as we can find it nowhere else. Seeing in him the joy of giving and serving we can find like joy in the spending of ourselves. Seeing His lowliness, we can find a first friend in our lowliness. For “Whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but find eternal life” --- a cup of life full to overflowing with sufficiency and satisfaction.

With the assurance of this caring for us on the part of God and of Jesus the Christ, let us welcome into the fellowship of Christ’s Church those who desire to unite with this family of his faith, and let us commune together in His Holy Supper.

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Dates and places delivered:

Wisconsin Rapids, June 29, 1958. (Communion)

Wood County Infirmary, July 2, 1958.