Jesus lived His message; He literally gave His all, His very life, out of love for you and me.
I am always moved by stories of those who lay down their lives for others. October 7, 2023, the terrorist group Hamas launched a vicious attack against Israel at the Kibbutz Be'eri. After Brothers Elhanan and Menachem Kalmanson and their nephew Itiel Zohar left their home in the West Bank city of Othniel, they traveled to help those under attack. They evacuated Israelis and others under attack starting at 6:00 p.m., and for 16 hours, under intense fire, they rescued many with an IDF armored vehicle they had found along the roadside. At 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, Elhanan was shot by a Hamas soldier. He would later die from his gunshot wound. This brave band of brothers of three rescued around 100 people. (
Source.)
The Jews in the safe rooms were afraid to come out, so they would question the team to determine if they were indeed Israeli. I thought it interesting that to prove they were friends and not enemies, the Kalmanson brothers and Itiel would sing songs about the Torah, the first 5 Books of the Old Testament. But they were most successful in convincing those they came to rescue that they were indeed Israeli when they recited the Shema in
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 in Hebrew,
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." When the trapped Jewish families heard the Shema in Hebrew, they opened the door and hugged their heroes. (
Source.)
In
John 3:16, we read the most recognized verses in the Bible. It has been a joy to look more in-depth at this biblical text. I am so glad Jesus said
"whoever". In Greek, that word also means
whoever! Anyone who inhabits the world, the cosmos. In fact, you can put your name in where it says "whoever". Of all the verses in the Bible, this is the one I pray for my grandchildren most often. No one but God hears me when I am alone with them and simply pray
John 3:16 over them.
"Believes": To believe is the correct response and the operative word.
"Shall not perish": Jesus addresses the negative first. He says you will not perish, and by perish, He means be cast into hell, a doctrine that He taught on frequently.
"But have everlasting life": But you will have eternal life in heaven with Him. We will live eternally with Him in heaven.
What a Savior Jesus is. Do you know Him? If you do not, then today receive Him by faith and turn from your sins. If you already know the Lord, then join me in sharing the Good News with everyone you can.
Apple
Spotify
Deezer
YouTube
