John 3
April 21
Reading: John 3
1 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 are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered 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? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"
10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification.
26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness-- look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."
27 John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease."
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 3 is comprised of two story units as the apostle is showing us who Jesus is and why we must believe in Him. The first is a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, an important Pharisee. The second begins with a conflict involving John the Baptist’s disciples. The moment gives John the Baptist an opportunity to tell his disciples that they need to begin following Jesus. John finishes out the chapter emphasizing the importance of what John the Baptist is teaching. Everyone must believe in Jesus and follow Him.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night because he is interested in who Jesus is and because he does not want to be seen. His other Pharisee friends would not approve. Nicodemus begins the conversation respectfully and seems to expect a theological discussion. He immediately finds that this will not be a discussion between equals. Jesus is teaching him.
And Jesus is interested in talking to Nicodemus about the new birth. (vs. 3) This is how eternal life begins. “You must be born again.” Nicodemus is instantly confused. Jesus is talking about a work of the Spirit of God over which Nicodemus, or you or I, have absolutely no control. But we can see when it happens. (vs. 8)
In verses 10-21 Jesus proceeds to explain to Nicodemus, and to us through John, His mission in coming to this world. He is going to lay down His life to accomplish the redemption in which those who are born again will believe and be saved to eternal life. Those who do believe will escape judgment and “do the works of God.” Verses 16-21 are worth committing to memory. You might recognize in these verses the themes in John’s first letter.
The conflict that John the Baptist addresses in verses 22-30 is simple. His disciples are upset because Jesus appears to be doing better than John. John’s response is deeply humble and shows that the Baptist understands the truth. Jesus is God, the Messiah. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” If you are a true follower of Jesus, you will want these words to characterize your life.
In the final paragraph of John 3, the apostle wraps up the conversations in this chapter with an encouragement to us to listen to God. There are many voices in this world telling you what is true, right, good, and profitable. Some of them are obviously wrong. Other voices, especially the ones we agree with, sound nice. Who are you going to listen to?
John is telling us that the voice we need to listen to, even if we don’t understand or agree, is the voice of the only person who has come from God in heaven to speak to us. This is the voice of God’s own Son, who has the Holy Spirit, who gives eternal life.