Love Came

Read

John 3:16 “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.”

Think

On a bitterly cold Christmas Eve in 1930s Chicago, the wind howled, and the city streets were frozen under winter’s grip. A young newspaper boy stood shivering on a street corner; his coat too thin to block the biting cold. Hunger gnawed at his stomach as he stared through the frosty window of a restaurant, longing for warmth and a meal.

A kind policeman noticed the boy and approached him. Concerned for his well-being, the officer asked why he wasn’t home. “I don’t have one,” the boy admitted, his voice trembling. The officer knelt down and said, “Go to that house over there, knock on the door, and when they answer, just say, ‘John 3:16.’ They’ll let you in.”

The boy hurried to the house, his frozen hands knocking on the door. An elderly woman answered, and when he nervously said, “John 3:16,” her face softened into a warm smile. She invited him in, and the heat from the fire felt like heaven. Sitting in a rocker by the flames, he thought, “John 3:16—I don’t know what it means, but it sure can warm a cold boy like me.”

The woman fed him a hot meal, and as he ate, he marveled, “John 3:16—whatever it is, it fills an empty stomach.” Later, she led him to a bathroom with a warm tub, bubbles rising to the rim. As he soaked, he thought, “John 3:16—it cleans a dirty boy like me.”

She tucked him into a soft bed, kissing his forehead. As sleep overtook him, he whispered, “John 3:16—it makes you feel loved.”

When he awoke on Christmas morning, everything felt different. New clothes awaited him, presents sat under the tree, and joy filled the air. The woman sat with him by the fire, explaining, “John 3:16 isn’t just a phrase—it’s the story of Christmas. It means that Jesus came as a baby to bring us God’s love. He was born for you, lived for you, and died for you, so you could have a home with him forever.”

Tears filled the boy’s eyes as he smiled and said, “Now I know what John 3:16 means—it means love.” That Christmas morning, love came, and it changed everything.

Apply

Do you know how much God loves you? Have you accepted his free gift of salvation? If you haven’t, you can do it today. Ask him to forgive your sins and place your faith in him.

Pray

God, thank you for the incredible gift of Jesus. Your love is beyond anything I can comprehend. This Christmas, help me to pause and reflect on the true meaning of his arrival, so that the wonder is not overshadowed by the busyness of life. May my heart be filled with gratitude and awe for the gift you have given me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.