“For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
-John 3:16 (KJV).
John 3:16 is the
most-memorized verse in the Bible. Children learn this Bible verse at
their mother’s knees and in Sunday School or catechism classes.
Adults who have learned the verse quote it silently for consolation
or aloud for testimony and affirmation. Countless sermons have been
preached on this text and numerous lessons taught on its truth.
Devotional thoughts on the verse are so numerous that the writings
could fill volumes. And here is still one more devotional to add to
the number.
The Amplified Bible version of John 3:16 reads: “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only-begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish—come to destruction, be lost—but have eternal (everlasting) life.” Eugene Peterson’s The Message Bible reads: “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.”
An inspiring story is written of evangelist Henry Moorhouse and how John 3:16 affected him. Moorhouse, who at age sixteen in 1859 when revival was sweeping England, was gloriously converted. Moorhouse, already a gambler, gang leader and thief, and one who had spent time in prison, heard the message of Jesus. He heard Evangelist Richard Weaver preaching in the busy city of Manchester, England in the Alhambra Circus tent on a night in 1859.
Entering to ridicule, instead Moorhouse’s mind was arrested by hearing the glorious name of Jesus in an impassioned message by Rev. Weaver. On the spot, Henry Moorhouse gave his heart to the Lord, realizing that Jesus loved even such a sinner as he. Almost immediately, the 16-year old convert, Moorhouse, began associating with members of the evangelistic team that went throughout England preaching the gospel. Others who had a great influence on Moorhouse were the Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, honored pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London and Henry Gratton Guiness, Principal of London’s Est End Institute. Appearing in many towns, the evangelistic team made up of the Rev. John Hambleton, preacher, Edward Usher, singer, and the young Henry Moorhouse, a disciple, gave testimony of forgiveness and grace and touched many who heard. Even at the tercentenary of the William Shakespeare Festival at Stratford-upon-Avon, Hambleton, Usher and Moorhouse went fervently among the crowd with placards that read: “Christ for Me! Praise the Lord! Mercy’s free!”
When Rev. Dwight L. Moody and his evangelical singer, Ira Sankey, were in England conducting revivals, they met the young and spirit-filled Henry Moorhouse. Moody told the young man that if he were ever in America, he would be welcome to preach in the church where Moody was pastor.
In 1868, Henry Moorhouse did come to America and made his way to Philadelphia. Rev. Dwight L. Moody was away, but the elders in the church where Moody was pastor decided to allow Moorhouse to preach, for he told them Rev. Moody had invited him to do so. For three nights he preached mightily, using John 3:16 as his text each night. Upon his return, Moody’s wife told her husband: “The young preacher tells even sinners that God loves them. His preaching is different.” Upon hearing the young man expound again on John 3:16 on the fourth night, Moody’s own heart was deeply touched. He testified later: “I never knew up to that time that God loved us so much. This heart of mine began to thaw out; I could not keep back the tears. I just drank it in. So did the crowded congregation. I tell you, there is one thing that draws above everything else in the world and that is love.” (from Richard E. Day: Bush Aglow: Life of Moody. Philadelphia: Judson Press, c1945, p. 145). From that time forward, Rev. Dwight L. Moody’s evangelical preaching took a new turn. He wanted to make sure everyone to whom he preached could hear of the amazing love of God for all people, for we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And Moody heard this challenge from a young preacher who died at age 40 on December 27, 1880. Moorhouse’s last words on his deathbed, even in his suffering, were: “Ask prayer for me to suffer for Christ better than ever I preached for Him. I only want to glorify Him.”
“How much did Jesus love me?” asked the evangelist in a heart-felt appeal. “He loved me this much” (he said, stretching out his arms and hands in a wide sweep from his body). “He loved me this much; and He stretched out His arms and died for me!” - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.17.2016
The Amplified Bible version of John 3:16 reads: “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only-begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish—come to destruction, be lost—but have eternal (everlasting) life.” Eugene Peterson’s The Message Bible reads: “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.”
An inspiring story is written of evangelist Henry Moorhouse and how John 3:16 affected him. Moorhouse, who at age sixteen in 1859 when revival was sweeping England, was gloriously converted. Moorhouse, already a gambler, gang leader and thief, and one who had spent time in prison, heard the message of Jesus. He heard Evangelist Richard Weaver preaching in the busy city of Manchester, England in the Alhambra Circus tent on a night in 1859.
Entering to ridicule, instead Moorhouse’s mind was arrested by hearing the glorious name of Jesus in an impassioned message by Rev. Weaver. On the spot, Henry Moorhouse gave his heart to the Lord, realizing that Jesus loved even such a sinner as he. Almost immediately, the 16-year old convert, Moorhouse, began associating with members of the evangelistic team that went throughout England preaching the gospel. Others who had a great influence on Moorhouse were the Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, honored pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London and Henry Gratton Guiness, Principal of London’s Est End Institute. Appearing in many towns, the evangelistic team made up of the Rev. John Hambleton, preacher, Edward Usher, singer, and the young Henry Moorhouse, a disciple, gave testimony of forgiveness and grace and touched many who heard. Even at the tercentenary of the William Shakespeare Festival at Stratford-upon-Avon, Hambleton, Usher and Moorhouse went fervently among the crowd with placards that read: “Christ for Me! Praise the Lord! Mercy’s free!”
When Rev. Dwight L. Moody and his evangelical singer, Ira Sankey, were in England conducting revivals, they met the young and spirit-filled Henry Moorhouse. Moody told the young man that if he were ever in America, he would be welcome to preach in the church where Moody was pastor.
In 1868, Henry Moorhouse did come to America and made his way to Philadelphia. Rev. Dwight L. Moody was away, but the elders in the church where Moody was pastor decided to allow Moorhouse to preach, for he told them Rev. Moody had invited him to do so. For three nights he preached mightily, using John 3:16 as his text each night. Upon his return, Moody’s wife told her husband: “The young preacher tells even sinners that God loves them. His preaching is different.” Upon hearing the young man expound again on John 3:16 on the fourth night, Moody’s own heart was deeply touched. He testified later: “I never knew up to that time that God loved us so much. This heart of mine began to thaw out; I could not keep back the tears. I just drank it in. So did the crowded congregation. I tell you, there is one thing that draws above everything else in the world and that is love.” (from Richard E. Day: Bush Aglow: Life of Moody. Philadelphia: Judson Press, c1945, p. 145). From that time forward, Rev. Dwight L. Moody’s evangelical preaching took a new turn. He wanted to make sure everyone to whom he preached could hear of the amazing love of God for all people, for we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And Moody heard this challenge from a young preacher who died at age 40 on December 27, 1880. Moorhouse’s last words on his deathbed, even in his suffering, were: “Ask prayer for me to suffer for Christ better than ever I preached for Him. I only want to glorify Him.”
“How much did Jesus love me?” asked the evangelist in a heart-felt appeal. “He loved me this much” (he said, stretching out his arms and hands in a wide sweep from his body). “He loved me this much; and He stretched out His arms and died for me!” - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.17.2016
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