As we continue our journey through the Gospel of John, we arrive at perhaps the most familiar verse in all of Scripture: John 3:16. Yet familiarity can sometimes breed apathy. Today, we'll explore the profound reality of who God is as the lover of our souls.
John 3:16a "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son..."
The first word that jumps out at us is "God." Who is the lover in John 3:16? It's God himself. This isn't just any love story; this is the story of how the Creator of all things—the one who spoke galaxies into existence—loves you.
Sometimes I think we resist this truth. Maybe you grew up in a church culture that elevated God's love at the expense of his other attributes. Or maybe, like me, you grew up with such a high view of God's holiness that you find it difficult to fully embrace his love. Either way, we need to reckon with the reality that God truly, actually, in all reality loves you.
Why is God's love so stunning? Because when John introduces God in his gospel, he magnifies our view of who God is. He's not some impersonal force, detached from his creation. He's a person—a loving Creator.
I'm reminded of David in the Psalms. He would look up at the stars and ask, "What is man that you are mindful of him?" But God isn't merely mindful of you; he loves you. And these shouldn't be comfortable words. They should shock us to our core.
"Amazing love, how can it be, that thou my God shouldst die for me?" The second God's love becomes normal and expected, we've begun to minimize who he is as Creator of the universe and holy King.
Think about it—this love isn't coming from a neighbor or a friend. It's coming from the God who created everything. The greater the lover, the greater the love. And there is no greater lover than God himself.
The magnitude of God's love should leave us awestruck. It should humble us. It should cause us to fall on our knees in worship. Because the holy, infinite, perfect God of the universe has set his affections on you.
His love isn't theoretical or ambiguous. It's embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. When the Bible speaks of God's love appearing, it's not talking about a concept but a person who came to die for your sin.
This love is the foundation of our salvation, the source of our hope, and the reason we worship. God loves you. Not because you're worthy. Not because you've earned it. But because that's who he is.
1. How does knowing that the Creator of the universe loves you impact your view of yourself?
2. In what ways has familiarity with John 3:16 potentially dulled your appreciation for God's love?
3. How might your life look different if you truly lived in the reality of God's love for you?
Stay dialed in,
Jonny Ardavanis