“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17 NIV
Today is my mother’s birthday and she would have been 82 years old. So Happy Birthday Ma. To honor her memory, I want to look at John 3:17. Her favorite verse was John 3:16 which I have already wrote about. I feel like the 17th verse is meant to be read along with the 16th even though it is usually forgotten about when John 3:16 is recited.
My mom would talk about John 3:17 when she was witnessing to others and I was privileged to see this during her last 6 weeks of life. She would discuss Jesus with each nurse, nurse’s aide and visitor that she could and if she found out that they were not saved, she would try to persuade them to consider following Jesus. When she was talking with anyone about Jesus, especially non-believers, she would tell them that Jesus gave up His life for them to save them, that He loves them that much.
Many non-believers hold a view of God as an angry punishing God, but John 3:17 tells us why He sent His Son to earth to live, die, and rise. God sent Jesus to save each and every one of us, NOT to condemn us. God loves us that much, Jesus loves us that much. We do enough condemning of each other on our own, God isn’t joining in, He is trying to save us.
So in honor and memory of my mother, I want to shout out to anyone who is listening that God Loves You and He sent Jesus to Save You!!!!!!! I pray that if you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that you take time right now to stop reading this and talk to God. Ask Him to come into your life, and save you from eternal damnation. Then pick up a Bible or put a Bible app on your phone and begin reading. I suggest John 3:16 and 3:17 as a great place to begin.
Have a wonderful day and again Happy Birthday, Ma.