The Signs of John 3:16

WHAT IS THIS JOHN 3:16

We see the signs at athletic events and for those of those who have followed sports for sports since the 1980's you will remember one individual in particular, Rollen Stewart, who in his rainbow hair style would be bouncing around in the stands in order to draw attention to his signature message, John 3:16.  I like thousands of other fans at first ignored this, but at the same time was perplexed by the message.  What exactly was the meaning of this verse which increasingly became more popular to fly in handmade signs at athletic events? Was Rollen Stewart a religious fanatic and why did the cameraman always focus on him? What about those other people who brought their signs, were they also fanatics as well or did they know that attention would be brought to them?

John 3:16,  "God so loved the world that he sent his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life." Being only a Sunday church goer I did not really comprehend the meaning of the passage.  For me this was message from those zealots who wanted attention on the big stage knowing that a camera would find them.  I found this a big turn off, but at the time I was also turned off to the real meaning.  So what God sent his Son. The idea of perishing was far from my mind as well as eternal life.

The former pro and college star football player Tim Tebow resurrected the passage by wearing the verse reference under his eyes during the NCAA national championship game in 2009.  His action and subsequent public testimony to his beliefs sent many people scrambling to research the message again.  So if the verse has sent people to Google in an effort to figure out meaning where is it being lived out?

A PERSONAL EXAMINATION

For me the meaning begins with the first five words "God so loved the world." Finally accepting that I am part of this world and God does indeed love me is essential.  Moreover, that God does not just love me but everyone.  I am not exclusive in the party. This includes those that I don't love as well. This is the crux for a true Christian. Can you love the world as God? Certainly not, but God knowing this sent his only Son as example of that unconditional love.

The words "he gave his only Son" now have a deeper meaning for me as I reflect on the message of Mark 12 in which the vineyard owner sends his only son after exhausting efforts to bring back the produce from the recent harvest. The unconditional love of the father sending his only son to assure that I might not perish is difficult for me to comprehend. Only love can explain this and then again because I am not always a loving person there lies the difficulty. However, I do believe that God did indeed send his Son so that I might not perish. Jesus did die for my sins.  I only have to reflect on the breaking of the bread and the Lamb of God. "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" and there I stand a sinner as the bread is broken. How much more convincing do I need? Not much.  I am thus saved for this moment.

But here is where the hunger to be part of Eucharistic celebration takes on a deeper meaning. I need to come again and again for I am not saved for eternity unless I continue to believe.   Belief for me is an ongoing process. The challenges of life sometimes take me astray where the belief that I am loved by God so much he would send his Son is not so evident. However with Mass and the breaking of the bread I am constantly reminded of this love.

AND FOR THE RAINBOW MAN

Unfortunately for Rollen Stewart things went array.  Although he proclaimed himself saved and would continue to attend high profile events with other dazzling attire affixed with messages such as "Repent Your Sins" and "Believe in Jesus Christ",  he had several scrapes with the law and federal authorities which landed him in prison for life.