According to https://biblegateway.com, the most popular verses searched over the last few years are: John 3:16 and Jeremiah 29:11.
(Joh 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
(Jer 29:11) ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
New American Standard Bible Version
Let’s look closer at John 3:16 by understanding the context of the passage. Before this passage, Jesus was answering a question from Nicodemus, a Pharisee.
Joh 3:1-15 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; (2) this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (3) Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (4) Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” (5) Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (9) Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” (10) Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? (11) “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. (12) “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (13) “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. (14) “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; (15) so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
New American Standard Bible Version
Nicodemus begins with a statement that humbly acknowledges Jesus as coming from God because of the miracles he performs. Jesus explains that no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again. Nicodemus expresses confusion about the concept of being born again so Jesus explains that to understand heaven, one must be born of the Spirit and not of flesh. Without that rebirth, even the most advanced teachers of Israel will not understand his teachings until Jesus is lifted up and becomes the way of salvation for all.
With this backdrop, Jesus then explains God’s plan for salvation.
Joh 3:16-21 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (17) “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (18) “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (20) “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (21) “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
New American Standard Bible Version
It is easy to see why John 3:16 and even 3:17 are so well loved. Jesus explains that his coming was not in judgment but out of God’s love for the world in order to save it through Him. This speaks of love without judgment. What’s not to like about that? Everyone seeks love and few hold the same affection for being judged. Even unbelievers like these verses because it seems to offer unconditional acceptance and love no matter what they believe or don’t believe. Unfortunately, Jesus doesn’t stop there even though most who quote these verses today do stop there.
Jesus next explains why God didn’t send him to judge the world. God didn’t send Jesus to judge the world because the world already suffers judgment. “He who believes in Him is not judged but he who does not believe has been judged already.” Jesus isn’t sent to judge because the world and everyone in it has already been judged. Jesus brings the only way for salvation from the already existing judgment. Jesus light comes into the world as the only means to be saved. Unfortunately, as Jesus continues, those who do evil hate this light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. They avoid his truth and, consequently, avoid the truth.
Jesus took on the wrath of God for all our sins in breaking God’s law. He accepted God’s judgment and curse for our wrongdoing. We have all fallen short of God’s Law (Romans 3:23). Let’s seek His light, our only hope of redemption. Life comes from fath (Hab 2:4). Let’s abandon our own ideas about how mankind will save this world from judgment because this world is already in judgment. Our only hope is in Jesus as our savior.