Our Constant Star: Day 19

Read & Journal

Read John 3:16-21. Use the following journal prompts to help you meditate on what you’ve read. 

• What do these verses teach you about Jesus? Add your discoveries to your growing list. 

• What words or phrases help to explain why Jesus came? 

• What does this passage teach you about yourself? Explain.

• What theological truths do you glean from these verses? 

• Consider the lyrics of verse three of “O Savior of Our Fallen Race.” What similar ideas do you recognize in today’s reading? 

• John 3:16 is among one of the best-known verses in Scripture, so sometimes we skim over this passage because we think we’re familiar with it. Read it again today, perhaps out loud, but ask the Holy Spirit to give you fresh eyes. Journal your prayerful response. 

Ponder

John 3:16 is one of the most famous verses in Scripture, and there’s no surprise in that, since the passage outlines one of the clearest examples of the gospel and tells us explicitly why Jesus came. Simply focusing on today’s Scripture passage, answer these questions: 

• Why did Jesus come? 

• What must we do to be saved? 

• Is there more than one way to be saved? 

• What happens to those who don’t place their faith in Jesus? 

• What happens to those who do? 

Our world has a lot of ideas about Jesus and salvation, but Jesus’ words to Nicodemus in John 3 reveal so much about God’s heart. What’s his motivation for salvation? Love. What’s he willing to do to save us from sin? Give his one and only Son to die in our place. What’s the whole goal and reason Jesus came to live among us? Salvation, not condemnation. But Jesus was also careful to stress that judgment is real, and those who do not accept the means of salvation God has provided (Jesus) will be condemned for eternity. 

Let me say this very clearly: Jesus came to live on earth because God loves us. God sent his one and only Son to die in our place for our sin so that we might spend eternity with him in a restored, reconciled relationship. We can choose to believe in him and be saved or turn our backs on Jesus, but we have to make a choice. There’s no in-between when it comes to the gospel. 

Today, my prayer is that you, Christ follower or not, would be overwhelmed with the enormity of God’s love for you. Jesus left the Father’s throne to save sinners. He came to earth, live a sinless life and died a death he didn’t deserve on a bloody, cruel cross. Saving faith involves recognizing that he died for you—that you are a sinner in need of rescue, and he is the only way to be saved. Place your faith in him today. 

For from the Father's throne You came,

His banished children to reclaim;

And earth and sea and sky revere

The love of Him who sent You here.

And we are jubilant today,

For You have washed our guilt away.

O hear the glad new song we sing

On this, the birth of Christ our King!