When the Creator of the Universe Draws Near
What does a universe 94 billion light-years wide have to do with you? More than you might imagine—especially when love enters the cosmos.
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16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
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The Birth of Jesus Christ
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[c]
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Love That Crossed the Cosmos
The James Webb telescope peers deep into space, but when we see those photos, what we’re actually seeing is only a tiny sliver of the outer space that contains billions of stars and nearly 1,700 galaxies.
An average galaxy is about 100 million light-years across. If you could travel at the speed of light from one end of the known universe to the other, it would take 94 billion years. Despite that vastness, astronomers tell us the universe is much larger than what we’ve discovered.
Why is this significant? What does the beauty of these photos teach us? It’s because of what God tells us about the universe:
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1
A God who would create a universe at least 94 billion light-years across must be mighty.
Additionally, Psalm 147:4 tells us, “He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names.” God knows each star in the universe. Astronomers say the stars are incalculable in number, but He knows them so well He can call each by name.
In Scripture, we repeatedly see God’s people rebelling. In one story in Isaiah 40, God used another nation to correct them, but while they were living in exile, God reminded them that He was still on the throne and that they still had hope.
“Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of His might and because He is strong in power, not one is missing.” Isaiah 40:26
If you’re willing to think deeply that God who created a universe that takes at least 94 billion years to cross has come to us in Emmanuel (meaning God with us), that reality is overwhelming. Massively stunning. Staggeringly shocking. A truth that should leave us awestruck.
If you’re familiar with this story, don’t lose your sense of awe. And if you’re a skeptic, this is worthy of exploration.
[READ MORE: The Christmas Story Prologue]
Breaking Down John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Let’s break down these phrases.
God Loves the World
The Greek word for “world” here is cosmos. That word includes the whole mass of persons alienated from God or even hostile to God and hostile to His Son, Jesus Christ.
This tells us that God loves everyone. God has a love for you, no matter what you’ve done, said, or thought. He loves you regardless of where you’ve been. He loves you no matter how dark your lowest moments were, and irrespective of how big the fall. God loves you.
He demonstrates His love by giving His one and only Son. God is pursuing you. You didn’t move first; God moved first. God sent His Son because He loves you.
Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44). No matter our age, experience, or any other attribute, God is pursuing you. Perhaps in God’s love and sovereignty, He’s brought you to this page because He wants to remind you of His love and demonstrate it over your life.
Whoever Believes in Him
This word “believe” is unique. In English, we hear it and come nowhere near the richness of its meaning. The Greek word pisteuōn is one of the New Testament words for faith, but it’s not just intellectual assent. It’s a deep, active, trusting reliance, like entrusting your life to another individual.
When our children were toddlers playing in the pool, I would tread water in the deep end, and I could say, “Hey, kids, come jump in. Dad will catch you.” My children knew they could trust me. They knew I wouldn’t let harm come to them. They were entrusting their lives to their father.
When Jesus uses this word for trust and faith, He’s inviting you to trust your life to Him. Entrust your life to Him.
What You’re Entrusting Your Life To
When you entrust your life to Jesus, you believe the things Scripture says about Jesus.
He is Savior. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior” (Luke 2:11). A Savior saves you from something. He saves you from God’s judgment, from condemnation, from hell.
He is the Christ. The word “Christ” is the Greek word for Messiah. He is the fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies, some dating back a thousand years or more, with great detail about Jesus’ life.
He is Lord. This is an astounding claim. If you look at Hebrews 1 and Colossians 1, you’ll see that Scripture affirms Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth.
1 Timothy 2:5 shares, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” If you entrust your life to Him, then you believe the things Jesus said, such as: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
You also believe the things Jesus said about Himself. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). That was a bold statement. In the Old Testament, Moses asked God, “If they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:13-14). What God revealed is: I don’t have a beginning. I don’t have an ending. I always have been. I am. Nothing is higher than Me.
When Jesus uses this phrase no less than seven times in the New Testament, He’s making it clear He is God embodied. This is why He says, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
God in the person of Jesus Christ has invited all of us to repent of our sins, to trust that what He did on the cross offers complete forgiveness of all our sins and covers us. What Jesus did at the cross required something of equal or higher value than your sin, something that could cover your sin. Only God in a body could do that.
Jesus Christ took your sin on the cross. This is an invitation to entrust your life to Him—His lordship, His rising from the dead.
[READ MORE: Why Did Jesus Have to Die?]
You Will Not Perish
Jesus says that when a person entrusts their life to Him, that person will not perish. It’s right there in the text. You will not be separated from God. You will not go to hell when you die. You will have a brand new life that begins now.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Some people ask, “Jesus is a loving man who did so many loving things. Why would He talk about this word ‘perishing’? That sounds so cold.”
Tim Keller once wrote, “Love without truth is sentimentality. It supports and affirms us, but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness. It gives us information, but in such a way that we cannot really hear it.”
Jesus is love, and Jesus does love. He loves us in such a way that He weds what’s true with His love.
You Will Have Everlasting Life
When a person entrusts their life to Him, not only will they not perish, but there’s a gift. That person will have everlasting life.
We can read over that so easily, but let me highlight the word for “life” in this passage. It is the Greek word zoe. It’s a loaded word, literally meaning life in its fullest, most profound sense; referring not just to biological existence. What Jesus is saying is that God in Christ creates a divine life within you, an abundant life, and also an eternal life. A new life now, accompanied by the Prince of Peace reigning in your heart.
The world hungers for peace. People hunger for peace of heart, hope, and joy. Jesus is those things. He is hope. He is peace that passes understanding. He is relief from earthly anxiety.
This is why Jesus said:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
He changes our lives in this life, but He also gives eternal life.
[READ MORE: How Does God Promise Us Peace]
The Brevity of Life
Sometimes people ask, “Why does the church talk so much about eternal life? Aren’t we concerned about this life?” Jesus taught about both. Jesus taught that we need to be thinking about both.
It’s hard to wrap our heads around what eternity is. We don’t have good categories for millions and millions of years.
Billy Graham was asked, “Other than salvation, what’s the most important issue humanity needs to understand?” He said, “The brevity of life.” Life, as James wrote, is a vapor (James 4:14).
Imagine stretching a long rope out, and it represents millions of years of eternity ahead for the believer. Millions of years in a new heaven, new earth, entirely in the presence of Christ. No more anxiety, sickness, or pain. Eternity.
Now imagine a small section of that rope, just a few centimeters. That’s your life right here. This is a vapor.
A lot of us spend our whole lives, much energy, lots of focus, so that we can have a lot of fun right here, right before we stand before Christ. Based on this one verse in Scripture, be mindful: God loves you.
The God Who Came
The Creator of the heavens and the earth, innumerable stars and galaxies, a known universe 94 billion light years across—this God has come to us in Emmanuel. This God loves you so much. He’s pursuing you in the Son He sent for you.
As you entrust your life to Him, trusting what He said about you and to you and out of His love for you, you will not perish. You will have a brand new life—a zoe life, life from the inside out. Christ in you, going all the way into eternity.
This is the God who came. This is the love that pursues. This is the life that awaits all who believe.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Let that be personal. The Creator of the universe came for you.
TL;DR
The vastness of the universe magnifies the wonder that God came near in Emmanuel.
John 3:16 reveals a love that pursues the world, including those alienated from God.
To “believe” means more than agreement—it means entrusting your life fully to Jesus.
Eternal life is not just future hope but zoe life now—peace, renewal, and life that stretches into eternity.
