Fifty Two Weeks / John 3

This chapter contains the most famous verse in the New Testament; however, it contains a lot more as well. The first part of this chapter is actually set in the context of a dialogue between Jesus and a man named Nicodemus.

Born Again

Nicodemus was a great rarity: a religious leader with a vested position who was willing to see beyond the system that supported his position. He came to Jesus and declared that surely he knew Jesus was sent from God because of the miracles He performed. 

Jesus’ reply was shocking on several levels. “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again.” OK, “born again” is a striking term in itself, but the really striking part here is that instead of Jesus embracing the endorsement of this religious leader He instead informs Nicodemus that seeing miracles isn’t evidence of God’s approval. In order to really understand (see) the Kingdom one has to be something called “born again”.

Nicodemus is taken aback. What nonsense is this? Being born again is a physical impossibility. 

Exactly. Jesus isn’t talking about something physical. He is talking about something spiritual. You have to be born of both water and the Spirit. In the natural we are born of water as we live our first nine months in an aquatic state. When we come into the kingdom that requires a spiritual birth. Jesus also gives one of the fundamental principles of scripture here by saying, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” 

The Golden Verses

John 3:16 is often called the Golden Verse of the Bible. Indeed, if it were all you knew about God it would be enough to save you. But all of these verses are quite rich.

(John 3:14-17) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Jesus references the incident in the wilderness where Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on a pole. Everyone who had been bitten by the plague of snakes and had the faith to just look at the bronze serpent was healed. Ridiculous? Yes. But also supremely simple and powerful. It was the prototype for how the Gospel works.

The Gospel is very simply that God loves us. God gave His Son for us. If we will believe in His Son we will never die. Ridiculous? Yes. But also supremely simple and powerful.

Jesus did not come to condemn us. It wasn’t as if we were going to be OK if only He hadn’t come. We were (are) already condemned. Jesus came so that we would not have to suffer the results of condemnation; He came so we could live forever and live on a higher plane.

John the Baptist

In the second half of the chapter it is John the Baptist’s turn to shine. John’s disciples have gotten into an argument with an unnamed person about the need for ceremonial cleansing. Obviously this person had heard that salvation was now available through faith in Jesus and didn’t appreciate the need for the rituals as much as John’s disciples. They came complaining to John about this. “You endorsed this guy and now he is teaching this weird stuff and stealing your following!”

John’s disciples were looking at things in a very logical worldly manner. John could see a bit better than that. He utters a remarkable reply and here are three points from his words.

• “A person can receive only what is given from heaven.” Wow! Some are called to what seems to be much. Some are called to what seems to be little. The important thing to remember is that unless God gives it to you you won’t be able to keep it and even as you keep it you must remember that it is His and not yours

• “He must become greater; I must become less.” I don’t even know what to add to that. No wonder Jesus said, “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John.”

• “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” So, John understood the Gospel also.