what was before John 3:16

Most everyone knows that famous verse from John 3:16.  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, but what about the verses that preceded it?  14 & 15?  Why don’t they get a little more publicity! I mean John 3:16 is probably on the arms or backs of a lot of people that like to profess their faith through ink, but lets take a look at the two verses right before the aforementioned John 3:16.

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”  Jesus spoke these powerful words basically laying out the events that would soon take place, yes it was God’s will that he send His only Son to die on a cross for us.  However all Jesus had to do was say the word and He could have come down off the cross, stayed alive, but what would have that done for the rest of us, never the less Jesus’ will wasn’t done, but God’s will and so he spoke.

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”  Meaning that He Himself must be crucified for us!  So Yes God sent His son, but even more so Jesus lived up to what God called him to do!  What has God called us to do, that by no stretch of the imagination would be a cake walk compared to what God called Jesus to do, that we stil struggle with on a daily basis?

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