Still the Right Answer

When I teach Sunday School, I will sometimes point out that Jesus is often the answer to many “Sunday School questions”.  In fact, Jesus is the answer to many of the important questions in life, so I guess that shouldn’t surprise us.

Many Christians (and even some non-Christians) recognize the Bible verse, “John 3:16”.  While the chapter and verse divisions were added (as a welcome convenience) much later than the Gospel of John and the letter of 1 John were written, it is interesting to compare the “3:16” verses from both of those books of the Bible.  Let’s start with the one in the gospel of John.

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 NIV

https://john.bible/john-3-16

If this were Sunday School, I might ask, “Who was God’s Son, sent into the world so that we could have eternal life?”, or “Who was God’s solution for a world of lost people, because He loved them so much?”  My particular class (generally made up of those who have spent more decades in church than I’ve been alive) might roll their eyes at such obvious questions as they correctly answer, “Jesus”.

However, the answer didn’t change in 1 John 3:16, either.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16 NIV

https://1john.bible/1-john-3-16

For a demonstration of how much God loves us, we can look not only at God the Father sending His son, but also God the Son giving up His life for us.  Yet again, Jesus was our perfect example, as He gave everything that He had for us:

• He didn’t dedicate His life to Himself, even though He was – and is – God.
• He didn’t dedicate His life to gaining power to force a change in people’s behavior, even though He was seated at the right hand of God.
• He didn’t dedicate His life to a social cause, although He advocated for many who were socially disadvantaged.
• He didn’t dedicate His life to an organization, although the church that He founded has transformed the world (with His help).

Instead, Jesus gave Himself; for us; out of love.  Jesus loved us, and Jesus loved God the Father, who also loved us.  (Because God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one God, their love for us is the same, but each person of God may specifically demonstrate that love in different ways.)

This makes Jesus’ love for us (and our expected love for others) the opposite of Cain’s hatred for Abel (as mentioned in 1 John 3:11-12).  Cain focused on himself.  Jesus focused on others.  [Ref. Womack, p.91]

Now, other teachers and preachers have made the point that dying for someone else might seem easier than living a life of love for others day by day.  We might think that we would jump in front of a bus to push someone else out of the way, for instance.  I hope that none of you ever have to make that choice, but let’s be honest: that form of heroism can be sort of a “one and done” decision (but still no less heroic).

Instead of a one-time choice, though, righteous habits like loving God, loving our neighbors, and loving our fellow Christians involves daily, ongoing decisions.

• It sometimes means choosing to help others when we really want to do something for ourselves, instead.
• It sometimes means caring for loved ones day after day after day.
• It sometimes means choosing to put up with those who keep falling back into temptation, and lovingly helping to restore them.
• It sometimes means serving those who need it, even when that is done without public recognition.

This “daily decision” kind of love is what Jesus lived out for us.  Yes, He gave His life on the cross for us (once and for all), but He also lived without sin every day of His life to keep that sacrifice perfect and holy, and He taught and served others out of love.

• He did so on days when He was tempted.
• He did so on days when He was tired.
• He did so on days when other people were jerks.
• He did so when we were still sinners (see Romans 5:6-8).

So, Jesus’ example is still the answer, but His example was meant to be followed, not just admired.  We should look to God for examples of His sacrificial love for us, but we must not stop there.  As we learn more and more about God’s love, we are expected to love others – especially fellow believers – in the same way.  It might seem like a lot of work to spend our lives loving others, but if that choice was good enough for Jesus Christ, His example is still the right answer for us, too.

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From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 2, 2025

References:

• 1717 Bible Studies, 1, 2, and 3 John,  © 2025 Christian Standard Media.
• Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
• The College Press NIV Commentary – 1, 2 & 3 John, by Morris M. Womack.  © 1998 College Press Publishing Co.