Have you ever heard of Twitter? Its a social networking platform that launched in 2006 to give computer and smart-phone users the ability to instantly post very short messages that are limited to 140 characters or less. Almost everyone tweets. From people like Kanye West and Britney Spears, all the way up to the President of the United States. But as Solomon wrote: There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
But social media isnt as cutting edge as we think. Before the Tweet deck or the somewhat older Facebook wall, there was the local tavern. Romans used to write brief comments on stonewalls posting greetings, proclaiming their love and even grumbling about the media content of the day. Here are a couple of their ancient Tweets that I found pretty amusing:
Secondus sends many and perpetual greetings to Onesimus.
Oh wall, I am amazed you havent fallen down, since you bear tedious scribbling of so many writers.
And if you thought chat rooms were an invention of the modern digital age, think again. During the 19th century, telegraph operators used to go on-line to tell jokes, play chess and even fall in love.
These types of social media have been around in one form or another since the time of Christ. And that got me thinking: if Jesus was online today, what would he tweet? Could he fit the good news of the Gospel into a single 140-character message? Many theologians have actually wrestled with this very issue. And time and time again they come back with the same answer: Yes.
It looks like this:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
John 3:16 is probably one of the most well known verses in the Bible. And on top of that, its been translated into over 1,200 different languages. Martin Luther called it the Gospel in miniature because it perfectly illustrates the loving nature of our Creator God. He loved us so much that no matter who we were, where we were or what sin wed already committed he sent his only Son to save us. Its a verse that gives us hope in Christ, and affirms Gods ultimate purpose for us all: not to perish but to live in communion with him.
Now thats a message we can all re-Tweet!
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