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 I-Can-Give-You-Life Billboard
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I-Can-Give-You-Life Billboard
Suppose you were driving along the highway and saw a billboard with this message: “I can give you life. Call 800-xxx-xxxx.” How might you respond to this offer?
- You might chuckle, “They’ve got to be kidding.”
- Maybe you would be perturbed, “I wonder what kind of scam that is.”
- Perhaps you would question the word “give,” “If a business can really provide life, they aren’t going to hand it out for free.”
- Or you might be angered, “ Who are they to claim they can give life?”
- Upon reflection, you might think, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this offer were true? Maybe I’ll call the number to check it out.”
Yes, a billboard claiming, “I can give you life” would cause quite a stir. But did you know that something like this billboard occurs in chapter after chapter of a book called The Gospel of John. The main character of this book is Jesus Christ. Repeatedly he announces that he has something to give away—LIFE! Here is a list of Jesus’ amazing statements.
- Jesus told Nicodemus, “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).
- Jesus told the woman at the well, “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).
- To some Jews who disagreed with Him, Jesus argued, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).
- To the crowd of over 5000 who had been fed when he multiplied of the loaves and fishes, Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.… For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:35, 40).
- To the crowds gathered at the Temple on a feast day, Jesus shouted, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
- Using sheep-shepherd imagery, Jesus taught, “I am the gate for the sheep…. whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:7, 8, 10, 11).
- To Martha, whose brother Lazarus had died and would soon be resurrected, Jesus explained, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).
- He comforted his disciples with this promise, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.… I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:2-3, 6).
- The night before Jesus died for the sins of all people, he prayed, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:1-3).
- The Gospel of John concludes: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).
How will you respond to Jesus offer?
- Will you laugh it off as a joke?
- Will you avoid it like a scam?
- Will you question whether the gift of eternal life is free, no strings attached?
- Will you doubt Jesus has the power to give you life?
- Or will you believe and receive what He offers?
Humbly confess your sin and weakness to Jesus, and by faith receive the gift He offers freely: Eternal Life.
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