We all know the famous verse John 3:16. For God so loved the world... etc. A lot of us learn and memorize this verse growing up in sunday school. However it isn't just bible-thumpers that are familiar with this verse. We see it at sports games, in pro-wrestling, on bumper stickers... believers and non-believers alike know this verse. It's an incredibly important and powerful verse, which is why so many of us are familiar with it. It's the gift of salvation all wrapped up into one awesome statement. However...
...what about the other 3:16 verses throughout the bible? A lot of other books in the bible include third chapters with sixteen verses. Let's take a closer look at a few of those passages.
Matthew 3:16 says "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:" This verse is incredibly important and very powerful as this is the verse in which Jesus himself gets baptized, symbolizing his death, burial and resurrection. The prepositions in the first part of the verse, "up" and "out" suggest that Christ was fully immersed in the water, not doused or sprinkled. And as Jesus came out of the water, the Spirit of God came down as a dove, a symbol of purity and innocence, indicating Jesus as the Messiah. Then in the following verse, the voice from heaven, God the Father, gives a verbal approval of his Son and his ministry. All three distinct members of the trinity are represented in these two verses. So much is included in just two powerful passages.
In the very next book of the Bible, Mark 3:16 simply says "And Simon he surnamed Peter;"
A short verse of only five words merely talking about someone's name. At first glance this doesn't seem like a pivotal passage. But this verse has a lot of significance as this was at the time that Jesus ordained his twelve disciples. Jesus gave Simon the surname Peter, which means "rock". However, Simon was considered to be impulsive and emotional. So we might wonder why Jesus would call his most impetuous follower "rock". It is because Jesus knew Simon, "Peter", better than he knew himself. He knew Peter would go on to do great things such as; become a foundational preacher of the early church, heal the sick, and author two books of the bible. Jesus knew who Simon was, what he was capable of and the important things he would go on to do. This verse is powerful because it shows that Christ knows us and knows what we are capable of through him.
Colassians 3:16 is a verse we all should memorize and recite daily. It says "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." This verse talks about the importance of our behavior and actions toward one another as believers. We should be counseling, and encouraging one another in our faith. When we act in love, forgiveness, and peace toward each other, we are more open to the blessings produced by the God's Word.
2 Timothy 3:16 says: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" This verse is especially important because talks about the power of the scripture and how essential it is in our lives and walk with God. It describes the bible as not just written by men but authored by God. The scriptures tells us what to believe. It tells us what is wrong and how to correct those wrongs. It tells us how to live in righteousness. The next verse goes on to say "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." When used and properly applied, God's word gives us all we need for life and to live our lives for Him.
The scripture is our ultimate source for answers, guidance and discovering our next steps in our walk with him. It's a book filled with power, promise and knowledge. What are some of your favorite OTHER 3:16s throughout God's word?