(The following is the April 8 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 3 and pay close attention to verse 16.)
John 3:16 is one of the most recognized verses in the Bible. Start reciting it aloud, and someone nearby can likely join in with you. Observe the crowd at a televised major sporting event, and you may see someone holding a sign with “John 3:16” on it. The verse contains truth at the heart of what Christians believe about the gospel of Christ.
Some consider John 3:16 to be the greatest verse in the Bible (although all of the Bible is God’s Word, so we should avoid pitting one passage against another in importance). A breakdown of its phrases has appeared in several places (but the original author is unknown). Here is one such summary that uses the familiar King James Version:
FOR GOD – the greatest giver
* “Bible Truths”, November 9, 2014, http://www.bibletruths.org/the-greatest-ever
SO LOVED – the greatest degree
THE WORLD – the greatest company
THAT HE GAVE – the greatest sacrifice
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON – the greatest gift
THAT WHOSOEVER – the greatest opportunity
BELIEVETH – the greatest simplicity
IN HIM – the greatest attraction
SHOULD NOT PERISH – the greatest promise
BUT – the greatest difference
HAVE – the greatest certainty
EVERLASTING LIFE – the greatest possession *
There is much to cherish in this verse – God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, the necessity of faith, and the promise of eternal life for all who believe.
Next Step:
Ask some people you do not know well if they are familiar with John 3:16. See if they can recite it with you as you share it from any Bible version. Consider printing a verse breakdown like the one above to give them. Follow the Spirit’s lead in having a gospel conversation.
