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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17 (NIV)
I gave my heart to Jesus in my late teens. It was just before Christmas and the family who was fostering me for a few months introduced me to a paraphrase of John 3:16: “For God so loved Liz that he gave his only begotten Son, that if Liz believes in him, Liz will not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn Liz but to save Liz through him.”
Now there was nothing wrong per se with them inserting my name in these verses. I needed to know that God loved me, and it personalized it in a way that helped me understand. When it came time to share Christ with my own children, this is how my husband and I helped them understand.
But let’s read the verses as originally written. “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
The Greek word for “world” is “Kosmos.” It means the planet, itself, and all of humanity.
God definitely “so loves” individuals. We read example after example of this throughout the Bible. But his heart here is to save the world—the whole of humanity—through Jesus.
I have a confession. As grateful as I am for the family who shared Jesus with me and for my relationship with him, I haven’t had a burning passion to share my faith with the world lately.
I don’t mean to keep him to myself. I care deeply about hurting people. But if I’m being honest, there’s been too much “Liz” and not enough “world” lately in our relationship. I can get lost in thinking my relationship with Jesus is mostly for me. I seek him for MY peace, MY joy, MY hope, and MY needs. In our “me” culture, it’s easy to get distracted, and I forget there are others within my influence, who are broken, hurting and in need of the hope of John 3:16–17.
The Christmas season feels like the perfect time for a course correction. I’m asking Jesus to help me get outside of myself. To open my eyes to opportunities in my neighborhood, at the grocery store, at church, on my social media, and in my community to share the hope I have in him.
God so loved the world that he gave...
He didn’t keep Jesus to himself. And I can’t either.
