Letter from the editor: How do people not know that?

By Courtney Warren

“It blew my mind that someone didn’t know John 3:16.” These words came from one of my sweet new sixth graders after we finished our devotional during fifth period. 

Every day we complete a devotional together. While we are completing our devotional, every other teacher is doing the same thing with their class during fifth period all throughout our middle school. I’m sure no one is surprised to hear that my rowdy crew wanted to do the Tim Tebow devotional Shaken. It’s always been popular with my students so I was excited to listen to Tebow tell the story of writing Philippians 4:13 on his eye black before a football game. 

As his story goes, Tebow notices teammates writing things on their eye black before they take the field. They write their mothers names, family members’ names, area codes, and so on. Tebow considered it for a minute and then shows Phillipians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He said he did it because he wanted something that would encourage and inspire people. He kept up this habit throughout the season and fans caught on. It became a trend amongst Gator fans at the University of Florida. Towards the end of the season, Tebow felt God putting it on his heart to change the bible verse. Leading up to the national championship, God placed John 3:16 on his heart. He was nervous, but told his coach that he wanted to change the verse. Coach Meyer responded with, “Philippians 4:13 got us here!” Tebow said no, it didn’t and he felt led to change the verse. 

After playing and winning the National Championship, Coach Meyer got a call from PR and was told the night of the championship game 94 million people Googled John 3:16 during the game. Three years later, Tebow’s team was playing the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs and while he didn’t even think about John 3:16 he later found out the date was exactly three years from the day he wore John 3:16 under his eyes. During the game Tebow threw for 316 yards, his yards per rush were 3.16, his yards per completion were 31.6, the rating for the night were 31.6 and the time of possession was 31.6. During the game, 90 million people Googled John 3:16 and it was trending on Facebook and Twitter. 

I love that story. After hearing it, the first thing that several of my sixth graders said was the same thing Tebow said when he found out how many people googled the verse. “How do people not know this Bible verse?”

This led to such a good conversation. We are so blessed. How special is it to know John 3:16? To know the meaning behind it? To hear the book, verse, and chapters and immediately know “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son.” How often do we take that for granted? My sixth graders and I answered that question with “often.” 

We are surrounded by other Christians in our classes, Christian teachers praying for us, and faculty members that have declared their faith before every stepping foot into their classrooms to lead our students. 

But not every classroom is like that. Not every school is like that. No every home is like that. How often do we take for granted the fact that we have that verse memorized?
 

My sixth graders can even say it in Spanish!
 

But if we know that 90 million people are Googling the verse, how much more important is it that we’re spreading that verse and that good news? 
 

I don’t know. I really liked this takeaway as I left class that day. 
 

Here’s to making John 3:16 a verse no one has to Google anymore. Because we’ve shared it with them before they could ever connect to the Wifi.