John 3:16, is without doubt the favorite text of most Christians. It tells them that Jesus died for them and that through His death on the cross, they now have salvation. But sadly, the real significance of the message has little effect on their hearts. This is not meant as a criticism, for there is a definable reason they are not aware of. You will come to understand the root cause of their complacency as you dig further into this exposition.

There is so much that inspired John 3:16, that it will take a number of articles just to scratch the surface. The depth of God’s love is incomprehensible. Have your Bible handy. Before we begin, let us open with prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, as we come to You, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray that the Holy Spirit will be with us to help us grasp the mystery of Your immeasurable love in sending Your precious Son, to die for our transgressions, we ask in His name. Amen!

The story does not begin with the birth of the Christ child as many persons believe. It actually began in heaven, before the world was created. That’s right. We will look to see what really happened. We’ll also find why life is so full of problems and how we can rise above them all.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Before we get into the study, I want to present a few very important questions for you to ponder, and answer for yourself.

How much do you love God? Is He supreme in your life?

Let me be upfront with you now. Loving God is more than lip service. It is more than saying, yes, I love God.. It has to be demonstrated in your life by surrendering your life completely to Him. Before you conclude reading this work you may be challenged with a serious decision.

Allow me another question please: If you found in the Bible a new thought that runs contrary to your present understanding, would you be willing to accept the new light, or would you tenaciously cling to your present belief?

As we proceed, keep in mind what Jesus told people about the cost of following Him. Let’s read it in Matt. 10:34-38

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (vs. 34) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (vs. 35) And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. (vs. 36) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (vs. 37) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (vs. 38)

Jesus is not saying that His primary mission is to split up households and cause discord in families. His character is love and His message is of peace and love. The basis of God’s government is love. So what is He actually saying in this text?

What Jesus is saying is that it may cost you to follow Him. You could become alienated from your dear ones–parents, children, in-laws, as well as friends, when you choose His way, leaving the ways of the world. He will teach you a new way to live—in the world, but not of the world.

Your loved ones may call you crazy and tell you that if you choose to leave the church your family has attended for generations in favor of another fellowship,.they don’t want to ever see you again. As Jesus indicated, the peace that once existed between you and your loved ones may be shattered.

You could be faced with serious consequences, but He asks, whom do you love more? Do you favor them over Me? If so, that’s your choice, but then you are not worthy of Me. That is what He means by being willing to carry the cross and follow Him.

Consider this very thoughtfully. You just might at sometime be faced with this very dilemma. You may have to choose between Christ, and family and your friends.

But, Jesus would never ask you to do anything without giving you a very satisfying reward in return. You will find much greater joy in fellowship with Jesus, than even with your own flesh and blood. It may not come to this sort of crisis, but be prepared–it could.

Jesus would never ask you to do anything that He hasn’t done Himself, and even more so than what He expects of you. And He did it for your sake.

Remember, Jesus, the Son of God, was at the right hand of His Father in heaven, as Lord over all the universe and as the supreme head of the angels. We have no conception of what heaven is like. We can only use our imagination and picture a place of unequaled splendor. A kingdom of joyful and loyal subjects with total unity among all the inhabitants. No voices of dissent there. No sickness nor death, no jealousy nor unholy pride, no bigotry, only divine love for one another.

In heaven the voices of praise to God are heard throughout every waking hour.

The angels have seen the glory of their Maker and they know of His uncomprising love for them and they cannot but sing of His love and glory. They deem it the highest honor and privilege to do His will. He is so good to them and they serve Him with utter happiness filling their hearts. The splendor and the peaceful atmosphere of heaven are beyond description.

Jesus left all that, where He shared in the songs of praise and honor, to come to this sinful earth and live as a man. He gave up His divinity and His equality with the Father in an effort to save you and me. He can never again be omnipresent, for now and forevermore He will be as in the form of a saved and glorified human. He is still honored as the Son of God. He is revered by all the subjects of heaven. His abilities, however, are limited now more than they once had been.

He gave up much more than we could ever imagine, or than what we will ever be asked to give up for His sake.

In the next chapter we are going to look more deeply into the love that prompted the Son of God to give up all His former glory. We will come to understand, but only to a small degree what it cost Him to leave His lofty and honored position where He was highly favored and joyfully served, to come to this earth to minister to us, to suffer for us and die for you and me.