Contemplative Bible Reading

John 3:17 (New Living Translation)

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

This is pretty simple. How did we miss it?

“God just doesn’t want me to have any fun. God hates us. God just wants to slap me around.” I’ve heard these and the like for many years.

How did we miss this little verse? Perhaps the verse before it, you know, God so loved the world that …, has overshadowed this one. There is certainly nothing wrong with John 3:16, but let’s not forget John 3:17.

Jesus wasn’t sent to squash folks under His thumb like little pests. He came to lift us up. Why do we fight that?