The Greatest Gift

What is the best gift you have ever received? What is the most valuable present you have ever gotten? Now, I wouldn’t exactly label those as trick questions, but they are something like “loaded questions.” The reason they are loaded is this; I would argue (and so would every Christian) that the most valuable and wonderful gift anyone could ever receive is the gift of eternal life found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Far more precious and costly than any earthly gift, is the gift of saving faith in Christ alone. The greatest gift ever given is described in one of the greatest verses that has ever been written.

As our church continues to work our way each Sunday morning through the Gospel according to John, we currently find ourselves at the (once) very well-known passage, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

If you are old enough to remember, there was a time when you couldn’t turn on a football game without seeing someone hold up a sign with this passage reference written on it. Inarguably, American culture has changed much since then. However, the truths contained in that wonderful verse remain the same; God loves a world of sinners so much, He gave His Son that anyone and everyone who truly believes in Him, would not perish, but have everlasting life.

One commentator said John 3:16 was the greatest verse in the Bible. He explained why he felt this way by writing, “The greatest Being loved to the greatest degree and gave the greatest treasure as the greatest gift to provide the greatest deliverance and the greatest eternal blessings to the least deserving of people.” Can you say Amen to that?!

Perhaps there is no other passage that so succinctly declares God’s love, sacrifice and grace in giving His Son for sinners as this passage. Martin Luther called John 3:16, “The Bible in miniature.” These men are right; God giving His Son to save fallen mankind is the greatest gift ever given. Think with me for a few moments about this extraordinary gift of God’s grace.

First, it was love that motivated God to send His Son. The Apostle John declares, God loved, so God acted. Our society treats the word “love” far too flippantly. Yet true love, Biblical love, is far more than an emotion or some sentimental feeling. True love, the kind of love that God has for His people, is a love that acts … a love that does something for those in need. God unconditionally loved, so God freely gave.

Secondly, what was it that God gave? God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son. Think on that dear friend. God gave His Son … I say again, His Son. Would any of you reading this article be willing to sacrifice one of your children in order to secure the release of a stranger or an enemy? “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Perhaps we’d be willing to give ourselves to save another, but one of our children? Not likely.

Yet, God loved so much that He gave His One and Only Son to redeem a world of sinners. Which leads us to our final consideration; this gift of love is available to whosever will receive it. God’s love is so vast, it reaches people and people groups from all over the planet. Nonetheless, there is a stipulation stated about this gift. Eternal life is only given to those who receive this gift of grace. Those who refuse this gift, or said another way, those who refuse Christ – will indeed perish. That word perish, does not mean annihilation, but eternal separation from God’s goodness.

We might ask, why would anyone refuse the greatest gift that could ever be given? Only pride and depravity would reject history’s greatest gift. Think on this, just as much as we delight in giving gifts to those we love; God gave the very best gift to those whom He loves! You cannot earn this gift, but you can receive it by faith.

God’s gift of His Son is the greatest gift ever given to mankind. Nothing else even comes close! I imagine, with next week being Christmas, many of you have gifts scattered all around your home. Yet let me suggest to you, the greatest gift that has ever been given, wasn’t wrapped in colorful paper, but wrapped in swaddling clothes. The greatest gift ever given did not have a ribbon or bow attached to it, but instead a crown of thorns placed on His head. The greatest gift ever given wasn’t placed under a tree – but nailed to a tree.

Have you received this gift? If so, have you shared Him with others?

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