Of
all the verses in the Bible, John 3:16 commonly inspires and guides the lives
of Christian believers. While there are many variations, the most popular is
the new international edition, which states, “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” (John 3:16). This particular message is mentioned in
the daily life of our culture far more than most other bible verses. It is
framed on living room walls and tattooed on the bodies of strong believers. In 1957,
Billy Graham, one of the world’s most famous and influential Evangelical
Christians, preached this verse to over two million people at Madison Square
Garden. Even current culture trends have deemed John 3:16 a worthy message for
each human to live by. Today, many prevalent songs feature John 3:16, including one of Keith Urban’s most well-know songs, “John Cougar, John
Deere, John 3:16.” In these lyrics, Urban quotes, “And I learned everything I
needed to know from… John 3:16.” These two respected men from different backgrounds in very different times, along with millions of other human beings, have
allowed the words of John 3:16 to echo around the world for decades and leave a lasting impression. I encountered this
verse in the public streets of New York City written in chalk on the corner of
72nd street and Central Park West.
While graffiti and meaningful messages exist all around the city, I believe the verse rests on this particular corner for a specific reason. The artist placed “John 3:16” on the corner of the Dakota Building, where John Lennon was tragically shot by Mark David Chapman in 1980. This corner sits directly across the street from the “Strawberry Fields” of Central Park, which celebrates the life of Lennon. John Lennon dedicated his life to promote peace throughout the world using his passion, lyrics, and music. With the death of a peace activist and beloved singer in mind, this image chalked on the sidewalk brings hope to those who visit this site and feel disheartened by the insensible violence that has existed and continues to exist in our world. It is a reminder to those who come to that location in remembrance of a tragedy and to those simply passing by, that with God in their lives, they are promised everlasting life in heaven.
The verse John 3:16 acknowledges and accepts human sin. While humans alone cannot free themselves from the ever-present and unavoidable sin that contaminates our world, the verse describes God's magnificent love, which provides all who trust in Him with eternal life. No matter how much hatred, cruelty, and aggression exists, God will free believers from their sins and grant them perpetual life in heaven after death. To many, this is an extremely uplifting thought. In the hustle and bustle of New York City, this message on a quaint corner of the upper West side provides hope and comfort to those who pass by.
While graffiti and meaningful messages exist all around the city, I believe the verse rests on this particular corner for a specific reason. The artist placed “John 3:16” on the corner of the Dakota Building, where John Lennon was tragically shot by Mark David Chapman in 1980. This corner sits directly across the street from the “Strawberry Fields” of Central Park, which celebrates the life of Lennon. John Lennon dedicated his life to promote peace throughout the world using his passion, lyrics, and music. With the death of a peace activist and beloved singer in mind, this image chalked on the sidewalk brings hope to those who visit this site and feel disheartened by the insensible violence that has existed and continues to exist in our world. It is a reminder to those who come to that location in remembrance of a tragedy and to those simply passing by, that with God in their lives, they are promised everlasting life in heaven.
The verse John 3:16 acknowledges and accepts human sin. While humans alone cannot free themselves from the ever-present and unavoidable sin that contaminates our world, the verse describes God's magnificent love, which provides all who trust in Him with eternal life. No matter how much hatred, cruelty, and aggression exists, God will free believers from their sins and grant them perpetual life in heaven after death. To many, this is an extremely uplifting thought. In the hustle and bustle of New York City, this message on a quaint corner of the upper West side provides hope and comfort to those who pass by.
Rothman,
Lily. "How the World Reacted to John Lennon’s Death 35 Years Ago." TIME
Magazine Online. TIME, 8 Dec. 2015. Web. 6 Apr. 2016.
Urban, Keith. John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16. Ripcord. 2015. CD.
No comments:
Post a Comment