Bible Study

Bible Study January 3, 2025

John 3:16 – 19 (The Message)

16-18 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. 19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God.”

Almost everyone alive has heard these verses especially John 3:16 but today I chose to share The Message translation.

J. J. Watt is an American former professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. Considered to be one of the greatest defensive linemen of all time,

During one of the bowl games on Thursday a commercial ran for his foundation and a compelling statement come from that commercial. As I remember it this is how it went. “It is not about how many people you knock down it is how many people do you lift up?” As you know J. J. Watt was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 2017.

I thought about the words of Jesus in the above passage. Jesus came to lift people up. His own words were “He came to help, to put the world right again.” (The Message). These words may be more familiar  “I did not come to condemn the world but to save it.” In other words He came to lift man out of the depths of sin he had gotten himself into because of disobedience.

How often do we follow those words of life? We see someone and what is our first thought? Why do they look like that? How in the world could they let that happen to them, to their families? The first thing that should come to our mind is WWJD. What Would Jesus Do in this situation, how would He go about lifting this person up? Definitely not condemn them.

I grew up in a church that was evangelical minded I appreciate that but they never seemed to consider maybe a person needs a meal before they trust what we have to say. How can I lift that one in need?

God Bless.