The Gospel Context of John 3:16

If you were ask for a verse in the Bible that expresses the gospel many would quote John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Now this is a glorious and wonderful statement of truth but it does not contain the whole of the gospel. The sentence requires context which Jesus supplies by referring to the bronze snake on the pole in the wilderness (Numbers 21:5-9) Jesus explains more in John 12 when he speaks of the Son of Man being lifted up.