“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.” John 3:16, TLV

A Father’s Love.      No April’s Fool here. This year Passover and our Savior’s Resurrection are in the same month. I love that. So as we begin this auspicious month, I’ll start with the basics. John 3:16.

This verse is commonly known as the Gospel in a nutshell. The verse most Sunday School children memorize. The verse that says so much about so many themes it would take a lifetime to unpack it. Yet, how often do we — especially in the middle of preparations for celebrating our Savior’s sacrificial death and resurrection? A reminder of His last supper—the Passover seder.

Do we ponder this verse — in between finding new ways to use matzah or searching for the perfect hats for services? Meditate on it? What are some of those themes?

Here are just seven to get us going:

1. The measure of God’s love.
2. If there is a Son, then there is a Father, why was it important for Jesus to mention this?
3. Why didn’t Jesus say, “I love you so much, I came down to earth?”
4. The significance of Yeshua saying, “God loved the whole world,” not just Israel and the Jewish people.
5. What does it mean to perish? Does God want anyone to perish? Who will perish?
6. Is believing really all it takes?
7. If we are redeemed children of God, why is Jesus God’s one and only Son?

But within all these themes is one word: Love.

Think More About It

Rather than my usual extrapolations and thoughts, how about yours? What does John 3:16 mean to you?

May we take time to meditate on our Father’s love.

Praying for Israel—Prayer Prompt

We have heard with our ears, O God
—our fathers have told us—
of a work You did in their days, in days of old. Psalm 44:2[1], TLV

As we meditate on the Father, let us pray that Israel and her people worldwide would remember. Remember what He did for them for thousands of years. Let this remembrance draw them closer to Him. And us. Amen? God bless you!