“GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
One cold, wintry night a poor Irish boy stood in the streets of Dublin — little city Arab, homeless, houseless, friendless.
He had gotten into bad company, taken to bad courses, and become an associate of thieves, who were leading him on the broad road to destruction. That very night they had planned to commit a burglary, and appointed him to meet them in a certain street, at a set hour.
As he stood there waiting, shivering and cold, a band was suddenly laid on his shoulder. It was very dark; he could only see a tall form standing by him, and he trembled with fear; but a kindly voice said: “Boy, what are you doing here at this time of night? Such as you have no business in the streets at so lath an hour; go home, go to bed.”
“I have no home, and no bed to go to.”
“That’s very sad, poor fellow! Would you go to a home and to a bed if I provided one?”
“That would I, sharp!” replied the boy.
“Well, in such a street and at such a number [indicating the place] you will find a bed.”
Before he could add more, the lad had started off. “Stop!” said the voice; “how are you going to get in? You need a pass, no one can go in there without a pass. Here is one for you — can you read?”
“No, sir.”
Joyfully the lad rushed off, repeating his lesson, and soon found himself in the street, and at the number indicated, before a pair of large iron gates. Then his heart failed him; they looked so grand. How could he get in there? Timidly he rang the bell. The night porter opened, and in a gruff voice asked, “Who’s there?”
“Me, sir! please sir, I’m John THREE SIXTEEN,” in very trembling tones.
“All right, in with you, that’s the pass,” and in the boy went. He was soon in a nice, warm bed, and between sheets such as he had never seen before. As he curled himself up to go to sleep, he thought, “This is a lucky name, I’ll stick to it!” The next morning he was given a bowl of hot bread and milk before being sent out into the street, for this home was only for a night. He wandered on and on, fearful of meeting his old companions, thinking over his new name, when, heedlessly crossing a crowded thoroughfare, he was run over. A crowd collected, the unconscious boy was placed on a shutter and carried to the nearest hospital. He revived entered.
It is usual in most hospitals to put down the religion, as well as the name and address of those admitted. They asked him what he was.
“Sure, I don’t quite know, but now I’m John Three Sixteen.” This reply elicited a laugh.
After his injuries had been attend to, he was carried up into the accident ward. In a short time his suffering brought on fever and delirium. There was heard in ringing tones, and oft peated, “John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)! It was to do me good, and so it has!”
These persistent cries aroused other patients. Testaments were pull out to see to what he pointed. Who could he mean? and here one, and the another read the precious words, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “It was to do him good, and so it has!” the sufferer cried. When those poor sick folk read the tender words, and heard the unconscious comment— “It was to do me good, a so it has! JOHN 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)" — their spirits were stirred, and God the Holy Ghost used that text then and there to the conversion of souls. There was joy in the presence of the angels of God over sinners that repented. The sovereign power of the Holy Spirit used this one text From the lips of a poor ignorant boy, to that hospital ward, and souls were saved
To continue our story. Consciousness returned, and the poor little fellow gazed around him. How vast it looked and how quiet it was! Where was he? Presently the voice from the next said, “John Three Sixteen, and how a you today?”
“Why, how do you know my new name?”
“Know it! You’ve never ceased with your John Three Sixteen, and I for one say, Blessed John Three Sixteen!” This sounded strange to the little lad’s ear to be called blessed! he for whom no one cared. “And don’t you know where it comes from? — it’s from the Bible.’
“The Bible! what’s that?” The poor little waif had never heard of the Bible! that blessed Book, God’s Word to man.
“Read it to me,” he said, and as the words fell on his ear, he muttered, “That’s beautiful, it’s all about love, and not a home for a night, but a home for always!" He soon learned the text, sang, “I’ve not only got a new name, but something to it.” This was indeed a joy.
Days passed on, and there were changes in the ward, but our little friend never felt lonely; he fed on his text and its precious words, little thinking how soon he would have use for them. Yet another soul in that ward was to be won to Christ by his means, and now in simple conscious faith he was to be the agent of blessing. On a cot near him lay an old man who was very ill. Early one morning a nurse came to his bedside, and said, “Patrick, how is it with you today?”
“Badly, badly,” groaned the old man. “I am marked for death. I’m not fit to die, O! what shall I do?”
“Patrick, it’s very sad to see you so,” she gently answered.
Poor Patrick groaned aloud. “God ha’ mercy,” he cried, “I’m such a sinner, I’m not fit to die. What shall I do? O! what will become o’ me?”
Our little fellow heard his miserable words. Poor old man, thought he, he wants a pass! “Patrick,” he called, “I know something that will do you good—quite sure—it has done me,”
“Tell me, tell me quickly,” cried Patrick; “if I only could find something to do me good.”
“Yes, yes, go on.”
“John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) — ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Through these words Patrick found peace in his dying hour, and entered into everlasting life — another soul brought to Christ in that hospital ward, by means of a single text, blessed by the Holy Spirit.
Our little friend recovered. For long John Three Sixteen was his one text. God blessed his simple faith: friends placed him at school, and he became an earnest, hearty worker for the Master.
ML-10/30/1960