Car Magnets: John 3:16 and John 6:53

We've all seen it. Someone holds a sign at a nationally televised sports event - hoping that all the world will see him. The sign reads John 3:16.

It is one of my favorites. Probably yours as well. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish, but may have eternal life.

Yes, it is a wonderful verse. But on its own, it's a bit misleading. Is believing in God and His Son all there is to it? Some would think so. But Sacred Scripture tells us that even Satan believes that Jesus is the Son of God . . . and he trembles at the thought. So, the sign is true . . . just not complete. We have to believe . . . but what must we believe? We have to believe . . . but we also have to do.

So, yesterday, we were driving through Chesterfield, Missouri, and I saw an SUV pass us. On the back bumper of his car, the driver had one of those car magnets. It was a simple oval shape, and inside the oval it said John 6:53. It made me smile.

Now, that's a great verse to round out the John 3:16 verse. Now, we're getting somewhere.

Don't know what that verse says? Well, you probably do . . . if you're Catholic. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.

It's nice to see that Catholics are doing their part to spread the fullness of the faith. At least I assume the driver was Catholic. I don't know many Evangelicals who are too quick to quote John 6:53.

But there is so much to this Faith. And John 3:16, the Evangelical battlecry, just doesn't cover it all.

Yes, we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

And that we are saved by water and the Spirit.

And that faith without works is dead.

And that we must eat the Flesh of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and we must drink the Cup of His Blood -- or there can be no life within us.

And there's more. True religion that is pure and undefiled before God is to care for widows and orphans in their distress.

Whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do for me.

I say, forgive 70 times 7 times.

Go and sin no more.

You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

I am not worthy to touch the sandals of His feet.

Lo, I am with you, even to the end of the Age.

Woman, behold your son.

There is so much. So many verses. Thank you, whoever you are, for putting the verse that highlights the "Source and Summit of our Faith" on your car. I have to wonder if the Evangelicals (who see your car magnet) find their Bibles and look up that verse. While they have John 3:16 committed to memory, I rather doubt they have John 6:53 memorized.

It's up to us to get the Word out.