For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Arguably, this is the most popular Scripture of Christianity and many people know it. Even non-Christians. Also, I believe we all know the essence of the season we have entered into. And this Scripture captures the essence of the season succinctly. This season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a season that is universally marked by showing love and the exchange of gifts. Friends share gifts with friends, families exchange gifts with one another, and society at large reaches out to the less privileged.
And rightly, it is a season of love and giving because the greatest love and gift of all human history was given by God through the birth of Christ: “For God so love the world…” So Christmas is a display of God’s love to humanity. And we know that love gives. Love shares. In displaying his love, therefore, God gave Jesus for the world: “that he gave his only Son”.
And that is the greatest gift in view. But what necessitated this display of love towards humanity one may ask. The text further says: “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” This phrase points us to the reason Jesus was born. To save through faith those who are perishing.
But another question arises. Who are those perishing? The answer: all of humanity.
You see, the Bible paints a certain picture of all human beings. And that picture is that we are all sinners. Indeed there’s no single one person who can plead innocence. The biblical verdict is truly that “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This simply means because of sin, we are all separated from God and stand condemned in judgement before God. The verses that follow John 3:16 explains this
17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
This is what makes Jesus the Greatest Gift from God. He came to restore our broken relationship with God, so that through him sinners will be reconciled to God.
What then is required of sinners?
When a gift is given, we have to receive it: “whoever believes in him.” This is what we are to do with this Greatest Gift.. Believe in Jesus. Surrender your life to him. This is the reason for the season. That Jesus came to reconcile sinful humanity to God through faith. This is why we celebrate Christmas. And one day we will all stand before God in judgement. What we do with Jesus now will determine whether we will stand justified before God or will be condemned. Every gift we will receive here on earth is temporal. But the gift of God of salvation is eternal. We receive life when we believe. And condemnation if we reject this gift.
