The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, September 14th: Numbers 21:4-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17)

FOR BETTER OR VERSE

“Who IS that guy?” my friend asked.

“What guy?” I replied.

“That ‘John 3:16’ guy. Every time I turn on a ballgame I see his tee-shirts and his hats and his yellow signs in the end zone.”

“It’s not a guy.”

“Well, what is it then, some fraternity? Or a brand of beer, or something?”

“No, no. ‘John 3:16’ is a Bible verse.”

“A BIBLE verse? You mean all those people are excited about a Bible verse? Get out. How can one little verse be that big of a deal?”

* * *

Good question. How CAN one little Bible verse be such a big deal? Well, if it summarizes the whole of the Christian faith and explains the plan of salvation for all the world, then that might be a reason why it’s such a big deal.

This week we get to hear this amazing verse as part of the gospel reading. It’s going to happen quickly; it’s a rather short reading this week. So pay attention. Some people might just be getting themselves organized—standing up, moving the kneeler out of the way, hitching up their belts, looking for their reading glasses, finding the correct page in the missalette, etc.—when it suddenly will be time to respond, “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ,” and sit back down again. What a shame it will be if anyone fails to hear and fully comprehend the monumental words of this famous verse.

The verse, John 3:16, is one simple sentence which summarizes God’s entire plan for all of creation: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

That’s it right there in a nutshell. That is the complete statement of the Christian faith. Everything which has ever been written or spoken about Christian theology since the time of Jesus, from Peter and Paul through Augustine and Aquinas and right up to C.S. Lewis and John Paul II and Billy Graham and Father Corapi, has been based on this glorious concept.

All of the prayers, liturgies, devotions, hymns, creeds, cathedrals, catechisms, churches, charities, seminaries, monasteries, missionaries, schools, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, hospitals, CYO basketball teams, and parish bowling leagues that have existed in the name of the Lord during the past 2,000 years have been founded on this one basic statement.

You see, all of the most important ideas about our religious faith are contained here: the love of God, the universality of His love, the gift of His Son, the need to put our faith in the Son, the victory over death, and the eternal life that will result.

Everything we think, say, or do to improve our relationship with the Lord is built upon the rock of this concept. If it were not true that God so loved the world, or if He had not given His only Son, or if belief in His Son did nothing for us, then we would have no chance of experiencing eternal life in Heaven. We would be forever separated from our Creator, and death would be our pitiful and final destination.

Since John 3:16 is the most succinct expression of God’s dealings with Mankind to be found in the entire Bible, it rightfully gets at lot of attention (and most of the end zone displays during ballgames). But the next sentence, verse 17, is also pretty terrific. This verse reads: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Contrary to popular opinion, God is not some vengeful, cosmic traffic cop just itching to nail us when we mess up. He does not want to condemn us. Frankly, I’m not sure why this is so. When you think about it logically, it’s a rather strange situation we’re in. God created us out of His immense love, bestowing on us a multitude of blessings: the gift of life, stewardship over an amazing and beautiful natural world, and the opportunity to be in loving relationships with our fellow human beings and with God Himself.

So how has Mankind responded, in general, to all these blessings? With a shocking lack of gratitude and an almost maniacal self-centered focus. In other words, we’ve collectively thumbed our noses at our Heavenly Father, gathered up our inherited gifts, and arrogantly walked away, a multitude of prodigal sons and daughters.

If I were God (and everyone should thank Heaven that’s not the case), I don’t think I’d be that forgiving. I think I’d probably be a vengeful, cosmic traffic cop just itching to nail the ungrateful little twerps I created.

But thankfully God has a lot more love than I do. He loves us so much that he provided a way for us to be cleansed of our sins and avoid condemnation. The particular way this happens is found in verse 18 (which, unfortunately, is not part of this week’s reading): “Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

So, what is required for us to avoid condemnation is quite clear and simple: belief in Jesus.

Sometimes in our fast-paced and hectic world we need to push all the distractions aside and re-focus on the basics. This week’s Gospel reading does just that. This one little Bible verse, John 3:16, sums up in a single sentence God’s love for us and His wonderful plan for our redemption.  Kind of makes me wish it was painted in big bold letters right on the 50-yard-line rather than on those little yellow signs in the end zone.

©2008