Most people know Tim Tebow sported John 3:16, which is perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible, on his eyeblack years ago. But there's a story about the verse that a lot of people are not aware of.
Appearing at 'Harry,' the television show of Harry Connick Jr., Tebow talked about an amazing "coincidence" involving the verse. He started by describing the time when he wrote "John 3:16" under his eyes when he played the college football championship as a University of Florida quarterback in 2009.
At the time, the verse was Googled 94 million times, "and it was a pretty cool moment," the Heisman trophy awardee said.
Three years later, Tebow's team, the Denver Broncos, just won a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tebow recounted he was on his way to the press conference when his public relations officer caught up with him.
"Timmy, did you realize what happened?" his public relations representative, Patrick, asked him.
"Yeah, we just beat the Steelers. We're going to play the Patriots," he replied casually.
"No, do you realize what happened?" Patrick asked him again.
"Alright, Patrick, what's up?" he asked.
As it turned out, that day was exactly three years since Tebow wore John 3:16 on his eye black. Still not realizing what Patrick was telling him, Tebow said he shrugged it off and told him it was "pretty cool."
"No, I don't think you realize what happened," Patrick explained. "During the game, you threw for 316 yards; your yards per rush were 3.16; your yards per completion were 31.6; the ratings for the game were 31.6, and the time of possession was 31.6."
And during the game, John 3:16 was Googled 90 million times and became the top trending topic on Twitter and Facebook, Tebow said.
He added that while many people will claim the figures are only a coincidence, he believed these things happened as a proof that he has a "big God."
Tebow has always been outspoken about his faith, and his life is an evidence of God's faithfulness. His mother contracted amoebic dysentery and fell into a coma while she was pregnant with him.
When she recovered, doctors said the baby endangered her life. They also said there was a very slim chance the baby would survive because of the strong medications she was taking, and they recommended abortion.
His parents, Baptist missionaries who were staying in the Philippines at the time, decided against abortion and prayed that God would take care of the baby--and God did. Although only a small part of the placenta remained attached, the baby was nourished throughout the pregnancy. And while he was quite malnourished when he was born, he soon recovered from it.
Tebow openly displays his faith. A couple of months ago, after playing his first game with the Scottsdale Scorpions, Tebow learned a man was having seizures in the stands. The man's body went limp after the seizure.
Witnesses said as Tebow touched the man and prayed for him, the man gasped for air and began to cough. Those who saw it said it was a "miracle." Tebow reportedly stayed with the man until EMTs were able to help him.
"You just remember what's important," Tebow told ABC News. "Baseball's awesome it's something I'm so excited I get a chance to pursue, but what's important is lives matter, people matter. This young man, he mattered. So my first instinct was to just be with him, put my hands on him and pray for him."
