The 3:16s of the Bible: Jesus: The Great Deliverer

Series: The 3:16s of the Bible.

Scripture: Exodus 3:1–16; Hebrews 2:14–15

Introduction

I have seen people in bondage.

Over the years, I have participated with Revive Indiana in street evangelism, walking the streets of downtown Marion and sharing the hope of Christ. During those experiences, I have witnessed firsthand the effects of bondage, oppression, mental illness, addiction, poverty, and the loss of human dignity.

People are never out of God’s sight.

God offers a solution—a means of grace that transforms the human heart. These are the very struggles that challenge us as human beings. What unites us around the world is our shared humanity and the troubles we face in this broken world.

Our story begins with a burning bush.

Exodus 3 records God’s call to one man whose obedience would change everything for a nation living in slavery.

Moses was eighty years old.

• He was no longer a prince.
• He was no longer a leader in Egypt.
• He was a shepherd in the wilderness.

Meanwhile, Israel had spent four centuries in bondage.

The story of Israel parallels the human condition. Just as Israel was enslaved in Egypt, humanity is enslaved by sin. Struggle and slavery to sin keep people bound, but the good news of the Gospel declares that we can be set free.

From a human perspective, it appeared that nothing was happening.

The silence seemed overwhelming.

But then God spoke.

One of the great truths of Exodus 3:16 is this:

God’s silence does not mean God’s absence.

While Israel thought God had forgotten them, God was preparing a deliverer.

Forgotten, But Not Forsaken

The same thing is true today.

Many people feel forgotten:

• Forgotten by family
• Forgotten by friends
• Forgotten by society
• Forgotten by God

Yet Exodus reminds us of four powerful truths:

• God sees.
• God hears.
• God knows.
• God delivers.

I. The Deliverance Israel Needed

Israel’s problem was obvious.

They were slaves.

They needed freedom from Pharaoh. Their chains were visible. Their oppression was real. Their enemy had a name. Their suffering could be seen.

So God raised up Moses to confront Pharaoh and lead His people out of bondage.

A Key Insight

Most people believe their greatest problem is external:

• Broken relationships
• Difficult circumstances
• Financial struggles
• Conflict with others

But Jesus reveals a deeper problem.

The human heart needs transformation.

Everything changes when Christ enters our lives.

Our Testimony

What difference has Jesus made in your life?

Can you testify to the deliverance that comes through a personal relationship with God?

I know I can.

I know the bondage of bitterness. I have experienced sadness and grief. I have walked alongside people who have suffered under the weight of injustice in a broken world.

Yet I have also experienced the freedom and hope that Christ brings.

II. The Deliverance Humanity Needed

Moses delivered Israel from Egypt.

Jesus delivers humanity from sin.

Matthew 1:21 says:

“You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Consider the contrast:

• Israel was enslaved physically; humanity is enslaved spiritually.
• The Israelites needed freedom from Pharaoh; we need freedom from sin.
• Moses delivered from Egypt; Jesus delivers from sin.
• Moses confronted Pharaoh; Jesus conquered Satan.
• Moses led God’s people through the Red Sea; Jesus leads us through death into eternal life.
• Moses saved a nation; Jesus saves the world.
• Moses provided temporary deliverance; Jesus provides eternal deliverance.

III. The Deliverance Jesus Provides

Jesus is still delivering people today.

Jesus Delivers from Darkness

Colossians 1:13 tells us that Christ has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into His kingdom.

Jesus Delivers from Oppression

Acts 10:38 reminds us that Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.

Jesus Delivers from Bondage

John 8:36 declares:

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus Delivers from Death

Hebrews 2:14–15 says:

“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”

Born Eternal

Have you ever considered that you were born eternal?

You have a soul.

Just this week, I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with several individuals by reminding them that God has prepared an eternal home for those who trust in Him.

The question is not whether we will live forever.

The question is where we will spend eternity.

Will we spend eternity with Jesus, or separated from Him?

The choice is ours because God has given us the freedom to respond to His invitation.

Some people ask, “Why doesn’t God simply force everyone into heaven?”

The answer is that God desires a relationship, not coercion.

Why would God force someone to spend eternity with Him if that person has rejected Him throughout this life?

God gives us a choice because genuine love requires genuine freedom.

Wherever Jesus went, freedom followed.

IV. The New Exodus

The Exodus was not merely history.

It was prophecy.

Israel was saved by the blood of the Passover lamb and passed through the waters, leaving slavery behind.

God’s presence guided them toward the Promised Land.

In the same way:

• We are saved by the blood of Christ.
• We leave sin behind through the power of the Holy Spirit.
• We journey toward our heavenly home.

The Exodus points us directly to Jesus.

Conclusion: The Burning Bush and the Cross

Do you see the parallels?

Moses stood before a burning bush.

Jesus hung upon a rugged cross.

At the bush, God announced deliverance.

At the cross, God accomplished deliverance.

The bush revealed God’s plan.

The cross fulfilled God’s plan.

The message remains the same:

• God sees.
• God hears.
• God knows.
• God delivers.

And because Jesus lives:

• No chain is too strong.
• No sin is too great.
• No fear is too deep.
• No sinner is too far gone.

Jesus is still the Great Deliverer

Our Lifeguard Walks on Water!

It’s amazing to think that God takes an interest in mere humans. Really, it’s extraordinary. We should all be amazed that God cares about even our simplest experiences. He knows us and is not blind to the things that happen in our lives.

Indeed, we need to recognize that God is fully acquainted with our suffering as well as our joys. We must remember that He once walked this earth as a human, clothed in flesh and blood. Does that seem astonishing to you? Is it difficult to wrap your mind around it?

It should amaze us that Jesus came and lived in this world. John chapter 1 tells us that Jesus is the Logos, the Eternal Word who existed before creation itself. Jesus was before all things, and through Him all things came into being.

A foundational doctrine of the Christian faith reminds us that God understands His creation. We are made in the image of God, yet fallen because of sin. Still, God sacrificed His Son for our salvation. Just as God provided a sacrifice in Abraham’s story with Isaac, He has provided redemption through Jesus Christ.

I recently saw a church sign with a simple but powerful message: “Our lifeguard walks on water.” (Thanks, Jesse, for sharing such a memorable truth.)

The statement is profound without requiring pages of theology to explain it. Jesus is the One who walked on water and called Peter out of the boat during a storm. For a moment, Peter also walked by faith. But when doubt overtook him, he began to sink. Had Jesus not reached down and rescued him, he would have perished.

That simple metaphor reminds us that Jesus is present in our storms and is the only One who can truly save us.
Why do we exist as a church? Are we merely a small white chapel at the end of the road? Perhaps that, too, is a fitting metaphor. When people reach the end of their own strength and see no other way forward, they can find hope through Jesus Christ.

We have been here all along, sharing the hope of Christ with those who seek Him. We offer hope through Jesus and through the testimony of transformed lives.

If you find yourself battling alone, caught in a stormy sea, or sinking beneath the weight of life, remember this: 

Our Lifeguard walks on water.

The 3:16s of the Bible: Jesus, Our Great High Priest

The following is an article based on the sermon series being reached the summer of 2026.

Scripture: John 3:1–21; Hebrews 4:14–16; Psalm 22:1–6

Beginning a New Journey Through the 3:16s of Scripture

Many Christians are familiar with the remarkable story of former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. During his college football career at the University of Florida, Tebow became known not only for his athletic accomplishments but also for his bold Christian witness.

One of the most memorable moments occurred during the 2009 National Championship game when he wore “John 3:16” on his eye black. Following that game, millions of people searched online to discover the meaning of that verse. Years later, during a Denver Broncos playoff victory, a series of unusual statistics seemed to center around the number 316, bringing renewed attention to the gospel message found in John 3:16.

While those events captured public attention, the real significance is not the athlete, the statistics, or even the publicity. The significance is the message itself:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NLT)

That verse serves as the launching point for a new study I am calling The 3:16s of the Bible.

The Great Titles of Jesus Through the 3:16s

Throughout Scripture, many verses ending in “3:16” reveal important truths about the person and work of Christ.

• John 3:16 — Jesus the Great High Priest
• Exodus 3:16 — Jesus the Great Deliverer
• Luke 3:16 — Jesus the Great Baptizer
• 1 Corinthians 3:16 — Jesus the Great Temple
• 2 Timothy 3:16 — Jesus the Great Word
• 1 John 3:16 — Jesus the Great Sacrifice
• Hebrews 4:16 — Jesus the Great High Priest
• Revelation 3:16 — Jesus the Great Judge
• Proverbs 3:16 — Jesus the Great Wisdom
• Psalm 3 (the Shepherd theme) — Jesus the Great Shepherd

Today we begin by focusing on one of the most comforting and encouraging truths in all of Scripture: Jesus is our Great High Priest.

Nicodemus and the Need for New Birth

John 3 records the nighttime conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee and religious leader.

Nicodemus possessed knowledge, influence, and religious devotion. Yet Jesus made it clear that religion alone could not save him.

Jesus told him:

“You must be born again.” (John 3:7)

The message was revolutionary then, and it remains revolutionary today. Salvation is not achieved through good works, church attendance, family heritage, or religious tradition. Salvation comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

That truth culminates in the most quoted verse in the Bible, John 3:16, where we discover God’s love demonstrated through the gift of His Son.

Jesus: Our Great High Priest

While John 3 reveals the necessity of salvation, Hebrews 4 reveals the sufficiency of our Savior.

The writer of Hebrews presents Jesus as superior to every priest who served under the Old Covenant. Unlike earthly priests, Jesus is perfect, sinless, eternal, and able to save completely.

Hebrews 4:14–16 declares:

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe… So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

What a powerful promise.

Because Jesus is our High Priest:

• We do not need another mediator.
• We do not depend upon a pastor, priest, or church leader to bring us to God.
• We can approach God’s throne directly through Christ.
• We receive mercy for our failures and grace for our needs.

The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus not only died for us—He continues to intercede for us.

Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that He understands our struggles:

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.”

Jesus knows our temptations, our fears, our disappointments, and our pain. He is not distant from our struggles. He is present in them.

The Suffering Savior of Psalm 22

The role of Jesus as High Priest becomes even more meaningful when we consider the price He paid for our redemption.

Psalm 22 is one of the clearest Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. Written centuries before Christ’s birth, it vividly describes details later fulfilled at the crucifixion.

The psalm opens with words Jesus Himself quoted from the cross:

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1)

Among the most striking statements in the chapter is Psalm 22:6:

“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned and despised by all.”

The Hebrew word translated “worm” is tola’at. While it simply refers to a worm, it is also associated with the crimson or scarlet worm from which red dye was obtained in the ancient world.

Throughout Scripture, scarlet becomes a powerful symbol of sacrifice, cleansing, and redemption.

We see scarlet:

• In the Tabernacle furnishings (Exodus 26)
• In the priestly garments
• In Rahab’s scarlet cord (Joshua 2)
• In Isaiah’s promise: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18)

These images point us toward Christ.

The suffering Savior described in Psalm 22 was mocked, rejected, pierced, and humiliated. He willingly endured shame so that sinners could experience forgiveness.

The scarlet imagery reminds us that redemption came at a great cost. Jesus poured out His life so that we might receive eternal life.

Our Great High Priest and Redeemer

The message of Scripture is wonderfully clear.

Jesus is not only the sacrifice.

He is also the High Priest who offers the sacrifice.

He is not only the Lamb of God.

He is also the Mediator between God and humanity.

He is not only the Savior who died.

He is the risen Lord who intercedes for His people today.

Because of His finished work on the cross, we can come boldly before God’s throne, confident that mercy and grace await us there.

Preparing Our Hearts for Communion

As we approach the Lord’s Table, we remember the One who suffered for us, died for us, rose again for us, and now intercedes for us.

The bread reminds us of His broken body.

The cup reminds us of His shed blood.

The Great High Priest became the perfect sacrifice so that we might be forgiven, reconciled to God, and welcomed into His presence forever.

What a Savior.

What a Redeemer.

What a Great High Priest.

Reflecting further on this particular message, I’m reminded of what the solve this declared, and what was echoed by Jesus from the cross. Beyond the expression of Jesus, asking the question about why he was forsaken by his father, David in Psalm 22:6 says that he was but a worm. 

The Hebrew translation of this is a scarlet worm. It is what is used to make red dye. But the irony of this is that while it is a color woven through the priestly gown and also displayed in the tabernacle with the curtain that separated the holiest part of the Temple, it is further displayed through Christ hanging on the cross. His shed blood, like the scarlet worm, stained the wood. 

The worm would climb an oak branch, which is like a bush size and would die after attaching itself to the wood. Having laid her eggs, as the larvae would come to life, they would feed off of her blood. The red stain would remain on the wood. It was her life given that provided for the life of her young.

The symbol is apparent. Jesus died on a cross to give us life spiritually.