Someone sent me this photo from a coffee shop this week. I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with Christ and coffee. Coincidentally, it arrived on Wednesday, which happened to be John 3:16 Day. I’d never heard of March 16th being given that honor. It’s a lovely designation and an excellent reminder, but in reality, every day is John 3:16 Day. That scripture verse is the crux of Christianity: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Wednesday was also the Jewish holiday of Purim, when the story of Esther is commemorated. Queen Esther risked her life to save her people from genocide. One of the most famous verses from the book of Esther is 4:14, “Who knows if you were made for such a time as this?” I wonder if President Zelensky has considered the same.
The biggest irony of the week has got to be hearing Vladamir Putin quoting Jesus’ words from John 15:13 to justify his actions in Ukraine. Trust me, Putin is no friend of Jesus, which is what Christ discusses in the next verse: “You are my friends if you do what I command.” What does Jesus command? He tells us in John 15:12 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Putin may claim to know God, but his exploits tell a different story. His actions in this war, and throughout his career, make it clear Putin doesn’t understand the transforming love of Christ. Since his days in the KGB he’s left a trail of human debris in his wake. That he would extract the quote from one of Christ’s famous Love One Another teachings is a travesty.
The Russian president’s Bible reference shouldn’t surprise me as distorting Scripture is one of Satan’s most notorious tactics. He employed that strategy to entice Eve to eat the apple and to tempt Jesus in the desert. And he applies the same tactic to us repeatedly, which is why it is crucial to know the Bible so we can recognize the misuse and abuse of God’s Word.
So how do we reconcile John 3:16 with someone like Putin or others intent on committing evil acts? Blessedly, we don’t have to because judgment is Christ’s alone. There have been many times in history when it looked like evil would prevail, but as Christians we KNOW the good guy wins in the end. Perhaps Putin should read all of John’s gospel.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
In the meantime, the Bible is clear about protecting those under siege. “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3-4). We can choose to offer humanitarian, financial aid and prayer, of course, which should always be our first line of defense.
