03172021 – John 3. 14-22 Lent 4B
Our Gospel text for this evening – happens to contain what has been called “the greatest verse IN ALL THE BIBLE.”
People “in the know” – tell me it is “the best LOVED” and “THE BEST-KNOWN” of all verses.
There are only 25 words in this verse yet no other single verse in all the Scriptures has been as blessed “in the salvation of so many souls” or, so, “THEY say.”
It has also been stated that THIS VERSE touches everyone.
EVERY.
ONE.
Fundamentalists love it.
Baptists love it.
Those on “the religious right” love it.
It was old-Martin-Luther-of-recent- memory who called John 3:16 “the miniature gospel” or “the gospel in miniature.”
It has been called “the gospel in a nutshell.”
It has been called “a love letter from God” – “written in blood and addressed TO ALL.”
But usually those who say that – do not mean ALL.
The verse itself has caused much discussion and some alienation. It is not without its controversy…
They pick and choose who THEY THINK SHOULD BE saved.
And those whom “they would save” – LOOK very much like themselves.
You SEE these words everywhere from Billboards to sporting events…hands down, John 3. 16 IS WELL KNOWN.
Preacher’s love playing with it and dividing it up into sections like:
God’s Grace – For God so loved the world…
God’s Gift – That he GAVE his only begotten Son…
God’s Gospel – That who-so-ever believes in HIM…
God’s Glory – But have EVERLASTING LIFE…
The word “LOVED” occurs 56 times in the Gospel of John alone. It is an important word for John.
And of course, when we are talking about “the love of God,” we are talking “agape” – unconditional love…loving without exceptions…love for ALL…love for the WHOLE WORLD and EACH and EVERY individual in it.
Which of course, makes SOME people EXTREMELY uncomfortable.
God loves “murderers?”
God loves those “behind bars?”
God loves “alcoholics?”
God loves “prostitutes?”
God loves “bartenders?”
God loves “child molesters?”
God loves “rapists?”
God loves “homosexuals?”
God loves “drug addicts?”
You GET the picture. Either GOD DOES LOVE, or he DOESN’T LOVE.
This is religion at its finest, he said, sarcastically.
Most of us, do not LIKE those whom HE loves. We DO NOT APPROVE of them, either… (I wonder what God thinks of that!)
Then, all of a sudden people start to back away, back pedal, we make excuses, we rewrite theologies. We hem and we haw…we sputter…and we come to our own conclusions…We dictate WHO and WHAT God loves.
We want to DECIDE.
God LOVES THE SINNER but hates the SIN. Yeah, that is it! HE HATES WHAT THEY DO. HATES.
This GOD OF LOVE…hates…or so, some people would have us believe. HATES!
That is HOW some have managed to get around THAT one…GOD ACTUALLY HATES. You can see that on billboards, and on posters, too…
And then, there is an uncomfortable avoidance that follows about GOD LOVING certain “types and kinds” of people.
HECK, most people do not even like their own relatives…or the people living right next door to them…
But isn’t UNCONDITIONAL LOVE -love that comes without condition?
“Unconditional love” is known as “affection without any limitations,” or “love without conditions.
“Unconditional love” is sometimes associated with other terms such as “true ALTRUISM” or “COMPLETE love.”
“Each area of expertise” has a certain way of describing unconditional love, but most will agree that it is that type of love which has NO BOUNDS and IS UNCHANGING.
In Christianity, the term “unconditional love” has been used to indicate God’s love for a person IRRESPECTIVE of that PERSON’S love for God.
Yep, atheists, pagans, heathens, non-believers of every types and all walks of life. God loves them ALL.
It is the love of the CREATOR for the CREATED…and there is absolutely NOTHING we can do about it.
So, is yours a God of Love, or a God of Hate? And does he love unconditionally or not?
I guess, we will all have to wait to find out!
But I would be willing to bet, ON LOVE.
Amen.