The Cross Is About Relationships

Leaven

John 3:16

New International Version

¹⁶ 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.

This passage of scripture conveys the Good News of God's amazing gift to the world. Unfortunately, some of us process its words too quickly and think of "eternal life" in simplistic terms. The phrase in this passage is not speaking about how long our souls will exist. Souls will exist forever (either with God or without Him). This phrase is not about their longevity; it is about relationship. It is the natural extension of the phrase "so loved."

I know this because of Jesus' own words later in the book of John. In chapter 17, Jesus defines "eternal life":

John 17:1-3

New International Version

17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Jesus has the power to let us know God and Himself. However, the Greek word for "know" used in this passage connotes more than factual knowledge. It is relational knowledge. It is intimate experiential knowledge. So, Jesus suffered the cross to renew mankind's intimate fellowship with the Father and the Son because God "so loved" us. Think about that for a moment - intimate fellowship with God - but He doesn't stop there:

John 17:20-21

New International Version

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus prayed that we would be one with the Father and Him. He desires that we would be in relational oneness. That was His goal: relational oneness. Let that sink in - relational oneness with God.

Opportunity For Growth & Change

Have you received the Gift of Eternal Life?

If you have not already done so, you can accept God's Gift by believing the truth of John 3:16 and allowing Jesus to be Lord of your life today.

If you have received the Gift, prayerfully explore new biblical ways to deepen your knowledge and draw even closer.