John 3

Pastor Craig

John 3:16

By Pastor Craig Sicilia

A policeman was making his rounds in a southern city one cold, wintry night

when he noticed some boxes piled against the curb. Walking over to them,

he saw what he thought was a bundle of rags. Suddenly, the rags moved,

and a little blond boy looked into the beam of the flashlight. His hair was

long and unkempt; his clothes, ragged and dirty. His socks had great big

holes in the heels, his shoes were run over, and he looked as though he

hadn’t eaten in a month. The policeman said, “Son, what are you doing out

here alone?” the little boy licked his lips and shivered as he answered,

“well, you see, I kinda got into a little trouble with my folks and thought I’d

run away. Now I’m lost and don’t know how to get home, and I don’t know

where to go.” The policeman pointed through the rain and mist to a sign

hanging a few blocks away and said,

Son, do you see the sign down the street which says Rescue Mission?” Yes sir,

Well you walk down there Son, and tell them to fix you up. The little boy

stammered, but sir, they don’t know me and I don’t know them.” “it’s all

right” the policeman assured him. “Just tell them John 3:16 sent you.” The

little boy walked down the street, up to the door and rapped. Sure enough a

man opened it and asked, “Son, what do you want?” The boy answered,

“Sir, John 3:16 sent me.” The man brought him in out of the cold, wintry

night, took him over by a fire and let him get warm. The little boy said,

“you know I don’t know John 3:16 but I know one thing; it will get a cold

little boy in where it is warm.”

Brothers and sisters, John 3:16 will get you into the kingdom of “God!! This is the key!!

“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.”

I turn to the gospel of John, chapter 3. God breaks it down very simply.

Here is Nicodemus, a religious man but lost. God told him, ‘Nicodemus,

you must be born again.’ He wants him to know that this verse will take him

in. so He gives the key to Nicodemus, the lost, religious man.

Many today feel that religion is is enough. They think that as long as they

act religious and go to church; as long as they don’t do some of the things

they have heard preachers condemn, they are all right. But have they ever

had a real experience with Jesus Christ?

Too many people think that some sad experience which they have gone

through has brought them to Jesus Christ. But in reality they have never

been born again. They have never had an experience with Jesus Christ.

This is the truth of it. Nicodemus was a religious man, but lost. And this

verse got him in.

Then the Lord takes us into chapter 4 and tells us about the immoral woman. The woman came to the well, lost and undone. People would have nothing to do with her. She would come to the well after other women had done their washing and left. She was ashamed to be seen. Jesus opened up the Book to her, so to speak, and bean to ask questions. When He came to the third question, He said, “all right, now, go get your husband.” She said to Him, “ord, I’m not married. He replied, “You have told the truth. You have had five husbands, and the man you are living with now is not your very own.” He touched the sin question, but He went further. He told her she could be forgiven. He gave her the heart of the Gospel, so to speak. It was the verse that led her in.

It dose not matter if you are religious, but lost; it dose not matter if you’re immoral, but lost; the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can save you, and John 3:16 can get you into the kingdom of God.

Then He goes over into chapter 5 to a man hopelessly crippled. He has been lying there on the bed of infirmity for thirty-eight years. He has never walked. He has not been able to do things like everybody else.

When Jesus walked into the crowd one day, nobody paid particular attention. When He saw the man, He said to him, “wilt thou be made whole?”

How many times have preachers begged you who are out in sin to give your lives to Jesus Christ, to have peace of mind, to know that you are going to Heaven when you leave this world? Can you imagine what this man must have thought? Would I like to be made whole? Why, if I could just get up and walk around and be like other people, that’s all I’d ever want.

Jesus said unto him, “Take up thy bed and walk.” The very thing he couldn’t do! He was a cripple and had been for thirty-eight long years! But he had never met Jesus. Now the Lord instructs him, “All right Son, take up your bed, and walk.”

Those legs began to straighten. He took up the bed and began to walk away.

You see, this verse got him in.

The little boy stood there by the fire and said, “I don’t know John 3:16, but I know one thing: it will take a little boy off the street where it’s cold and wet and get him into a place where it’s warm.”

The man said then, “Come on, Son. I’ll get you a hot bath ready and some clean clothes.”

The little boy went in and had his first bath in days. And when he got out of the tub, he put on clean clothes which he hadn’t had since he left home.

The little fellow said, “You know, I don’t know John 3:16 but I know one thing: it will not only take you in, but it will clean you up.”

Brothers and sisters, this Gospel of Jesus Christ will clean you up and make a new man out of you.

In my mind, I can see the prodigal Son down in the hogpen of sin. He made his way back home. The first thing the father did was to bring him a robe. He wanted him to be clean.

We who have been cleansed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ have a robe of righteousness that we can wear because we’ve been made clean in Christ’s blood.

Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied up in a bow.
To day was daddies day at school, and she couldn't wait to go.
Her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid, she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates, of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried, For her to face this day alone,
And that was why once again, She tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school, eager to tell them all,
About the dad she never sees, A dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called a student from the class,
To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare;
Each of them was searching for a man who wasn't there.
Where's her daddy at? she heard a boy call out,
"She probably doesn't have one." Another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.
"My daddy couldn't be here. because he lives to far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.
And though you can not meet him, I wanted to you to know,
About my daddy and how much he loves me so.
Cause my daddies always with me, even though we are apart.
I know because he told me, He'll be forever in my heart.

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears;
Proudly watching her daughter, Who was way beyond her years.
She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much, He's my shining star.
And if he could he'd be here, but heaven's just to far
But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away..."
And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day..........

Brothers and sisters this gospel is real, it will take you in, it will clean you up, it will give you comfort when you think you just can’t go on. This gospel will get you into heaven.

This little fellow stood there with clean clothes on and said, “I don’t know John 3:16, but I know one thing: it’ll take you off the street where it’s cold and bring you in where it is warm, and it’ll make you clean.”

Folk’s Jesus Christ will do this for you today if you will come to Him by faith.

Not only that, but after a while the man came back to the boy and said,
Come on, Son. I’ve got some hot food for you.”

The little boy had not had a decent meal since he had left home. The man took him into the dining room, put some plates out and set the food around where he could eat all he could hold.

The little boy sat there and ate and ate until it almost ran out his ears. When the man walked out of the room, the boy said, “I don’t know John 3:16, but I know one thing: it will fill a hungry boy’s stomach.”

Honor your father and mother." This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, "you will live a long life, full of blessing." And now a word to you fathers. Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord."
Ephesians Chapter 6 verses 2 – 4

John 3:16, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, can take care of you physically and materially. All through the bible, we read of widows with nothing to eat and the Lord provided.

In those days when a woman’s husband was dead, it was very hard. They didn’t have social security or welfare. They had to look to God.

This woman began to question. It looked lie God had done the very opposite for her. She had only a bit of meal. She looked in the barrel and said, “Just enough to make one cake of bread.” She sighed and continued, “All right, Son, this is all we have. Nobody else has enough to share with us, so we’ll eat this and die.”

About this time came the prophet of God saying, “I wonder if you would make me a bit of bread.”

Whe said, “All right, I’ll make you a little bread. It is all we have, but I’ll make it.”

She went to the barrel, took her measuring cup and scraped the bottom. I

imagine the Devil saying, “Now, look what you’ve got for serving God!

I can see her as she turned the barrel aside and took the last bit of meal and

made him a little cake and gave it to him.

God saw the willingness of that woman’s heart and said, “This is the kind of God I am.” And he took care of that widow.

Then the man says, “All right Son. You’re all filled up. You have on clean pajamas.” He took him to a little bed with clean sheets, and he said, “Come on. Let’s go to sleep.” The little boy got into bed for the first time in so many days, and the man pulled the cover up around his neck and whispered, “God bless you, Son. God bless you.”

The little fellow said, “I don’t know what John 3:16 means, but I know one thing: it’ll rest a tired boy.”

Is this not what Jesus ment when He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”? I believe the Lord means for us to read it this way: “Come unto Me, ye who are tired, weary and worn out in sin. I will put clean sheets on the bed. I’ll tuck you in and stand watch over you all night.” I believe that is what He wants us to understand.

That’s what God wants to do for you. He wants to bless you, wants to give you rest in your souls. You can’t have rest until you rest in Jesus Christ. You can’ rest if you’re worried , afraid somebody might come in the middle of the night and knock on the door; you can’t rest. You can only rest when you have real security.

That is what Christ dose for you. When He saves your soul, He whispers in your ear the assurance of God’s salvation. When you go to bed, you look up and say, “heavenly Father, there’s a lot of trouble in the world. God, I don’t know.” It seems that God answers back, “Now, Son, when I wanted an ocean, I just reached down into nothing and came up with water, and there was the Atlantic. I got another handful, and it became the Pacific. Another handful became the Mediterranean. Son, when I got through, I just blew the water off My hand and formed the clouds in the sky. Son, in that same hand I can handle all the troublemakers. You fall asleep and rest. I have everything under control.” The Scripture says, “He giveth his beloved sleep.”

Oh, what sleep and rest on can have when he knows God has the whole world in His hands.

Why can’t some people sleep? You can’t rest the body until you rest the soul. He said in Matthew 11:28,29

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your sols.”

The little boy slept all night long. It wasn’t long before the sun came into the room. The man came behind the bed and said, “Son, wake up! Wake up!” The little boy woke up and found they had laid him out some clean clothes.

The man said, “while you were asleep, we found out about you. We know where your home is. We called your family, and they are more than willing to take you back. Son, we have a bus ticket for you. Here it is. Just as soon as you’ve had breakfast, we’ll take you to the bus station. You’ll get on the bus, and when it gets to your home, your mother and father will be standing there to welcome you.”

The little boy said, “You know I don’t know John 3:16, but I know one thing: it’ll take a little lost boy home.”

I tell you there’s a lot I don’t know but I don’t know, but I do know one thin John 3:!6 will take a lost man to Heaven.

Take a moment and thank Dad for:

•  Those annoying phrases you've caught yourself using with your kids.
•  Teaching you the importance of quiet time during Monday night football.
•  Uncovering the little known fact that there is no need for a laundry hamper, the floor will do just fine.
•  Proving that grunting and mumbling are acceptable forms of communication, no matter what your mother says.
•  Using your first car (he purchased for $350) to teach you humility.
•  Teaching you the importance of a fine beer. It should be savored and appreciated as a work of art.
•  Encouraging your own ingenuity by throwing away the instructions while saying, "we don't need these".
•  Illustrating the true meaning of pride, or lack of, by parading around in his boxers in front of your friends.
•  Offering a brilliant rebuttal to the whole toilet seat issue. "It's easier to put the seat down than lift it up, you have gravity working with you."
•  Explaining the importance of planning for the future by never throwing away anything that, "might come in handy one day".
•  Teaching you the only tools you really need are duct tape and a Swiss Army knife.
•  Explaining why camping and fishing trips are considered "real vacations".
•  Giving you the confidence to never have to ask for directions- you always know where you are going.
•  Showing you how to be adventurous and try the shortcut.
•  How to do all the laundry in one load and allow more time for football.

I tell you the truth, this Gospel will put families back together- not only in this life, but it will fix you up for the life to come.

In John 14:2,3 Jesus said,

“In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

A father was watching his young son trying to dislodge a heavy stone. The

boy couldn't budge it. "Are you sure you are using all your strength?" the

father asked. "Yes, I am," said the exasperated boy. "No, you are not," the

father replied. "You haven't asked me to help you."

That’s all God wants is for you to ask, He wants you to say yes to Jesus Christ, He wants you to have faith, He wants you to learn about him. God don’t care if your lost, He don’t care if your imorral, It dose not matter the sin, Invite him in to your heart, he’s there waiting patiently for you to accept Jesus Christ into your life today. That’s what it means to be born again, born into a new you, a righteous you, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ’s. And from there He will do the rest.

So the little boy stood there saying, “Mister, I don’t know John 3:16, but I know what it will do. It will take a little lost boy off the streets and get him warm; it will take that empty little boy and fill his stomach, clean him up, put some clean clothes on him, put him in a bed and watch over him. It will get him a bus ticket so that a little lost bay can find his way home.

“Mister, tell me something; Who is this John 3:16

the man answered, “Son, it is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The little boy said, “Mister, I want to be His servant forever.”

And so do I! I want to serve Him forever!

That is what you will get if you come to Jesus. He’ll take you in, get you in out of the cold, clean you up, give you a good meal, take care of you, give you a good night’s rest and take you Home!

John 3:16 is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “our father in heaven” who we wish a happy fathers day to today.

John 3:16 is Jesus Christ.

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 hallelujah

pastor Craig Sicilia productions