Come to the Light

Good Morning! 

If you are reading and meditating on the gospels this quarter, the Bible reading today is one of the most read and quoted.  Let’s take a look at the whole chapter this morning …

John 3 English Standard Version (ESV)

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] 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[b] 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.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind[e] 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[f] 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.[g] 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.[h]

16 “For God so loved the world,[i] 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.”[j]

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.

Footnotes:

a.     John 3:2 Greek him

b.     John 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7

c.     John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit

d.     John 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here

e.     John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit

f.     John 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12

g.     John 3:13 Some manuscripts add who is in heaven

h.     John 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation ends at verse 15

i.      John 3:16 Or For this is how God loved the world

j.      John 3:30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36

I know this is a lot to digest in just one sitting.  Looking just at the first 21 verses, which is the conversation between Jesus and a Jewish religious leader, we understand that Jesus is using this occasion to teach. And we know that Nicodemus listened … becoming a follower. 

Jesus begins the teaching by stating to Nicodemus the need for a person to have a spiritual as well as a physical birth.  Keep in mind that, as a religious leader, Nicodemus would be working hard to keep every aspect of the Law and its interpretations (sub-laws in the Misnah) in hopes of salvation.  Jesus debunks that right away.  Just as Nicodemus had nothing to do with his physical birth, his physical actions would have nothing to do with his spiritual birth.  The same is true for all of us … our only input is to receive God’s gracious gift of eternal life by trusting in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

What strikes me is the brevity of the conversation.  Try this: get yourself a partner (spouse, child, co-worker, etc.). Have one to take the role of Nicodemus; the other to take the role of Jesus. Take your time … but read the conversation and see how long it takes.  In that brief conversation, Jesus points out

·         Salvation is from the Son of Man (the one who both descended from and ascended to heaven.

·         The Son of Man would be crucified.

·         God loves all.

·         The Son of Man’s purpose is to provide salvation to all.

·         The condemnation of humankind is the refusal to believe in the sacrifice of the Son of Man.

·         Many will refuse to believe because they do not want to have their sinfulness revealed.

·         Those who do believe will receive eternal life.

This is just a quick skimming of the surface in reviewing this passage … but just think of how much Jesus packed into a five to ten-minute discussion.  And we know it was effective because Nicodemus believed. 

WIIFM?

God has made the provision for me.  Do I believe it?  Do I go beyond just acknowledging that Jesus is a great teacher to placing my trust in Him as my Savior and my Lord.  Am I willing to have my sinfulness exposed so I can grow in Him?  Or, do I want to cling to the darkness?

I hope all of us will come to the Light and receive Christ.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, It is often painful for me to see my sinfulness … but I realize that the Light you shine in my life is for my benefit.  Teach me to run to Your Light so that I might be clean. In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  John 3