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
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.
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.
