John 3:1-21
Title: Jesus Witnesses
to Nicodemus.
Analysis:
This
passage of God’s Word contains some of the most amazing truths about salvation,
Jesus, and the reason that Christ came into the word. John begins our passage
by setting our scene for the dialogue that follows. Nicodemus was a Pharisees,
and a prominent ruler in this party. He came to Christ by night most likely
because he was worried of the implications of associating with Jesus. When they
begin their conversation Nicodemus says that they (the Pharisees) know that
Jesus is from God (vs. 2) because the signs that Christ performed were proof.
This shows that although they desired to kill Jesus, the Pharisees knew without
a doubt that He was indeed the Son of God. Jesus replies by saying, “unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” The conversation continues as both Jesus and Nicodemus talk of salvation. Jesus explains that one must be cleansed on the inside and pure from sin to be born again. Only those who are born of the spirit can be saved because they will have the Spirit of God living inside them. Just as the wind blows and cannot be controlled, the Spirit of God saves whomever He chooses.
Nicodemus, amazed at this teaching responds to Jesus saying, “How can these things be?” Our Lord replies to Nicodemus now explaining that the reason man does not believe is because they are ignorant of the Scriptures. We know that the Scripture spoke extensively of Christ in the Old Testament, and yet the religious leaders were blind to who Jesus was. Jesus even refers to how Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, just as Christ will be lifted up on the cross. This healing will not be temporal, like Moses’ but rather spiritual and eternal.
John now gives us the most common of our Lord’s words in verse 16 which say, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” These words and the words in verse 17 summarise the reason that Christ came into this World, and in effect summarise the bottom line of John’s Gospel. Jesus then continues by explaining that He is the light and that men hated the light because their deeds were evil. Only those who practice truth will be able to come to God and will be shown as a child of God.
Response:
It
says in verse 16 that God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to this
earth so that we may be saved through Him. This act of the Father that was
pre-determined before the beginning of time which is an amazing thought! I
think of how hard it would have been for the Father to eventually turn His back
on His Son for the sake of us. It then makes me think of the amazing love that
God must have for me, even while I was still His enemy. These verses remind me
that I should think often of the marvelous work of God in my life so I can be
continually praising Him. The Gospel truly is:
Holy God in love
became
Perfect Man to
Bear my Blame
On the Cross He
took my sin
By His death I
live again
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