#john3

“Thanks for meeting me,” Amelia said over her pint of beer, wiping away the foamy mustache it left with her right hand. “I’d have ordered you a drink, but I don’t know what’s your favorite.”

Dear God, As we study John this evening, we invite you into our study and our lives. We ask that you meet us where we are, whether that is in thanksgiving, or in the midst of struggle. We ask that you reveal yourself to us and allow your word to be living and active. Let John 3 be life-changing and your Spirit to be life-giving. Amen

Part 1: Nicodemus and the question of life- Remember how Jesus is always calling all the Jewish leaders hypocrites and ignorant? Well Nicodemus is one of those guys. He’s a teacher and leader in Jewish society, and he is supposed to have all the answers. Yet, he comes to Jesus under the cover of night and calls him Rabbi (which is significant since Jesus has exactly 0 education and doesn’t deserve the title according to Jewish standards). 

Why does Nicodemus come to Jesus during the night? Why doesn’t Jesus turn him away? What could the physical darkness of the time of day symbolize for Nicodeumus’ life? 

I think the best part of the whole interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus is the fact that Jesus doesn’t wait for him to ask a question before giving an answer. Nicodemus walks in and Jesus says “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Surprise Nicodemus, Jesus doesn’t need you to ask the question “How can I receive the kingdom of God” to know that you’re thinking it, yet Jesus shows mercy on him and explains further- “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.” What Jesus is getting at here is ownership. Who does Nicodemus live for? Who does he belong to? Himself or the Lord? If we think about earthly things as our end goal, we are born of the flesh. If we let our sin control us, we are born of the flesh. If we pray and read our bibles for our own glory, we are born of the flesh. Jesus calls Nicodemus (and us as a result) to sacrifice our old lives for something greater. He calls us to be “born again” spiritually in the new life of Christ’s sacrifice for us. If we are born of the Spirit, we belong to the Spirit and the ways of the flesh lose their hold. If we belong to the Spirit, Christ is our life. 

What does it mean that Jesus knows what we need before we ask? How does the impact our prayers? Who do you belong to? Are you born of the Spirit or of the flesh? What does it look like practically (every day living) to be born of the Spirit? 

Part 2: Jesus gives Life- Nicodemus is so stuck in thinking about God in earthly terms, that he doesn’t comprehend who Jesus really is. He calls him a teacher, but Jesus calls himself Messiah. Verse 14 says “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” This verse might seem strange, but Jesus knows his audience. Nicodemus knew this story well as a Jewish leader. Let’s go back to Numbers 21 for a minute. The Israelites are in the desert and they sin (typical start to any OT story). As punishment, the Lord sends “fiery serpents” so that whoever was bitten would die. The people remember the Lord and turn to Moses for prayer. Moses prays for mercy and the Lord answers. The Lord tells Moses to make a bronze serpent and raise it up on a pole so that whoever looks at the serpent will live. Alright back to John everyone. Do you see the connection? The people are suffering for their sins, and as the serpent was lifted up, so Jesus will be lifted up on the cross that whoever sees him may live. And Jesus doesn’t stop there- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, the whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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.” Jesus is directly telling us that he is life-giving. Yet that part of the verse is not the most important part. The more important phrase comes first- For God so loved the world. The rest of the words only happen because this clause begins the sentence. Why did Jesus come? Why did we get eternal life? For God so loved the world. The foundation of the gospel and this entire book we’re reading is that God so loved the world. 

Do you doubt that God so loves the world (I do pretty often so be honest)? How do you see God’s love in the world? How do you know that God loves you (because he does individually love you, so think about it)? 

Part 3: The Response to Life- I think John the Baptist has a beautiful answer to the question “How do we respond?” He begins by making it clear that he is not the Christ. He does not depend on his own strength, but gives his life over to the power of Christ saying “He must increase and I must decrease.” Sometimes I ask God to send me to great places to do great things, but I forget that God calls me across the street to further his kingdom in a way that no one will ever notice. That ordinary calling is just as valuable as one that brings millions to Christ. Whatever life we are given, and whatever life anyone else has, we are called to be content and joyful- “Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.” True joy comes from putting Christ as the center of your life and giving up your own fame and glory. When we receive the testimony of Christ, we “set [our] seal to this, that God is true.” That seal goes right back to ownership. We are stamped with God’s Spirit and are given new life in the body of believers. And we know that this is the only Truth in the world. 

Where is God calling you to sacrifice for his kingdom? What ambitions do you need to let go of to be content in Christ alone? What does it mean to be joyful (not necessarily happy)? What does it mean that God is true?