John 3:17
Note: In Lent we shifted from our ongoing exploration of John’s Gospel to the passion narrative and in Easter continued with John’s account of the resurrection. Having come to the end of John’s narrative, we are now returning to where we left off, picking up with John 3:17. If you want to refresh your memory of where we were, you can find the last several devotions here.
Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
This may be the most important verse in the Bible.
I know, I know, that award typically goes to the verse just before this one, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
I get it. But what I love about this verse is that it gets to the heart of the purpose and mission of God’s sending of the Son, actually elaborating on the motivation in John 3:16. Why does God send the Son? In order to save the world. Period.
Indeed, lest anyone be confused, the sentence starts with a negative. God did not send the Son to condemn. God sent the Son to save. That negative is important, as so many assume that the primary disposition of God toward humanity is one of judgment and that’s character is inherently disapproving or condemning. But not so. For this verse sums up Jesus’ mission in a nutshell and expresses again and definitely God’s character: God is not condemning but loving, and Jesus did not come to judge but to save.
And here’s the thing: If God really did send Jesus to save the world, what in the world do we think could possibly keep God from accomplishing this mission?
Prayer: Dear God, whenever we hear your name, let us remember that you sent Jesus not to condemn but to save…everyone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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