I imagine you have seen the same signs I have at sporting events, parades and the like. They say only “John 3:16.” I have been curious about it, but have never researched it. I had no idea what the scripture was referring to because, honestly, in the religion I was born into, it seemed like the Bible was a second class citizen and we didn’t study it nearly as often or with as much passion as we studied the other stick.
So, the other day I was listening to KLOVE – a Christian radio station – and a listener called in to share that he had posted the scripture reference and its words to his FB page. Later that night he received a call from a friend who said he had saved his life. His friend had prepared for committing suicide that evening and went on FB to post a cryptic goodbye message only to see this John 3:16 verse.
As I thought about the power that must be contained within that scripture, I decided to look it up for myself. Online through www.biblegateway.com I found every possible version of the Bible to search. I put in my verse reference: John 3:16 (which, ironically enough that exact verse was the example for how to search by verse) and I found the text to read:
For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life.
I sat and stared at the screen, sitting with my body experience of that text and allowing whatever emotions I had to rush through me at that moment.
I have always had difficulty understanding God’s willingness to give up his only Son. I have one daughter and I cannot imagine what it would take for me to give her up. I understand the theory of sacrificing one to save the multitude, but the theory of the crucifixion and the brutality of it all makes no sense to me.
As I have strengthened my gifts as an energy healer and a handmaiden of the Lord – which, I am as shocked as anyone that THAT is where my work is leading me – I have come to know Jesus on a very personal level. I have felt Him come into the room when I am working with people. I have felt Him speaking through me to people that need to hear what He has to say. I have felt Him place his hands upon me and reassure me that I am being who I’m meant to be, doing what I am meant to do – especially when I go deep into doubt.
I have also come to understand God’s infinite love for ALL people. It doesn’t matter to Him what avenue you take to find Him, just as long as you find a road that leads to Home. Jesus was sent here as an example of how powerful human beings can really be when they choose to believe in their divine power. The power of Jesus was due to the fact that He believed, without a shadow of any doubt, that He would be able to do all that He did. Even more than believing, He knew it to be true.
When you can get beyond your humanness, tenderly embrace your flaws, love yourself and find within you your divine Light, embrace it and express it, you can begin to see the miracles all around you that are created at your behest. The true power of your divinity is that you have the gifts within you to perform miracles. Jesus was an example for humans to look to for how to serve one another. He was killed because He challenged the beliefs of “authority” figures. He was a thorn in their sides because people were witnessing His gentle ways, His loving example and they were being moved to stand with Him, follow Him. Therefore, He was weakening the power of the “authority” figures.
Yes, John 3:16 is a powerful reminder of who Jesus is, why He was sent and what humans can receive through him. But my favorite scripture is still John 13:34…
A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
