THE GREATEST VERSE IN THE BIBLE IS JOHN 3:16..

The Lord Jesus had instructed Nicodemus that ‘as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up , that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (3:14,15 ) Now came the commonly-agreed, most remarkable statement in the entire Word of God. (John 3:16 ) . Why?

We shall consider each of the words in this meaningful verse.

‘ God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. ‘

‘God’. Is the triune God of the Old and New Testaments; the God of Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, Isaiah, John the Baptist; and the apostles; is a personal God; is infinite; eternal; is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; He possess all the attributes of Deity.

He is the greatest Person in His created universe. His name is love.

‘so loved ‘. ‘so’ is the greatest intensity of the love of God, while it flows from the nature of God Himself;` it is directed to fallen mankind; who is loved for their own’s sake, and so Christ willingly laid down His life for the salvation of rebellious ones. Such is the original word for ‘love’.

‘the world’ is the sum total of persons living in the world’. 1 The greatest number of people received the gift of God’s dear Son. I am staggered that this nation should receive such a gift; that every member of our extended families ( some of whom still resist His goodness ) have been included; that heathen peoples, who are in spiritual darkness are recipients even while they wait to hear. Our task is plain. God’s love is unlimited in range. Our Saviour showed such vast compassion.

‘He gave ". Our Father is our Benefactor. ‘ He withheld not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all’. Abraham had done so with Isaac, before God intervened. He gave for our advantage, out of deep need, to lift us from our fallen state. Christ gave Himself a ‘ransom for sin’ when He hung in bitter shame on CalvaryThis is the greatest evidence of His regard for us. Our gifts even with our dearest ones seem so paltry compared with His.

‘His only’ shows the uniqueness of His gift. It was once in a lifetime, even though planned in the eternity past ( as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world ) . The Father gave His only treasured One. Heaven had no other offering. He bankrupted Himself to confer on us ‘unsearchable riches in Christ Jesus’. What a vacancy around the throne that no other could fill! How He longed for His triumphal return to the throne room. ‘My beloved Son’.

‘ Begotten Son’ is the one and only Son of the Father, Who enjoyed this intimate oneness through all eternity.. The Holy Spirit conceived His natural life in the womb of Mary. Therefore, in His manhood, He was born of God. When the Father raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, ‘He was the ‘first begotten from the dead’. Truly He was the begotten Son of God; in eternity, His virgin birth and in His resurrection. and therefore the God-Man.

. 1= zodhiates (Lexical aids to the New Testament.)