John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
From the locum
In just twenty-seven words, John 3:16, the famous verse from St. John’s Gospel which we will hear read during the Eucharist this Sunday, describes a loving God, a cherished world, a self-giving Son, a universal invitation, a deliverance from death, and a promise of eternal life. Christianity in a nutshell. So what’s the problem?
“Christianity in a nutshell” sounds catchy, but in the end, I don’t think such a thing exists. John 3:16 is a beautiful passage of scripture, and we are right to recite it, memorise it, and cherish it. But the way of faith it points to is as vast and mysterious as all the workings of a human heart reaching out for God’s. That’s why we can trust it; its challenge corresponds to reality. No love as rich, demanding, costly, and free as God’s love for us can ever be reduced to a formula.
With every blessing, Fr Michael