God Must Move First (John 3:22-27)
Jesus’ disciples are baptizing many people near where John the Baptist is preaching and baptizing people. This is before John is imprisoned. While this is going on, John’s followers get into a debate with the Jews about religious washing and purification. They then come to John with the complaint that more people are now following Jesus than John. John replies, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” What John means is: Men are unable to…
Step into the Light (John 3:19-21)
Jesus has just finished telling Nicodemus that all those who do not believe in Him are already condemned. Jesus now explains why men are condemned and how men escape the condemnation through Him. Men are condemned because they reject light and love darkness Jesus comes as the Light of the world. Jesus is light in that He exposes sin and reveals the true nature of men. Men are condemned because they reject the truth and run from Jesus. Men are…
Already Condemned (John 3:17-18)
Jesus did not come to bring condemnation Nicodemus believes that the Messiah will come to destroy the Gentiles and sinners. Jesus declares that God has sent not sent Him to condemn and destroy the world. Nicodemus is expecting the Messiah to remove the Roman rule and establish law-abiding Jews, like himself, as rulers of the world. Jesus came to bring salvation Jesus was sent by God to save the world. God did not send Jesus to establish the law-abiding Jews…
God’s Love for the World (John 3:16)
Jesus is talking with Nicodemus about the New Birth. He has just told Nicodemus that the New Birth comes through faith in the Son of Man dying so that His people might live. He now explains further what He means. God loves the world This sending of Jesus to the earth to provide life for God’s people shows God loves for the world. This idea would have been extremely offensive to Nicodemus. As a Pharisee, Nicodemus believed that God only…
Look and Live (John 3:14-15)
Nicodemus is still having a hard time understanding what Jesus is saying about the New Birth. Jesus then reminds Nicodemus of the time that God provided a way for the children of Israel to live again. All were bitten by snakes and would die The Israelites were bitten by poisonous snakes, and many of them had already died. The snakes bit people indiscriminately. It did not matter if you were old or young, a priest or a commoner, male or…
The New Birth is What Matters Most (John 3:1-13)
Nicodemus does not understand how things can be the way Jesus describes Nicodemus does not understand the new birth. He does not comprehend that he must have a new nature by the power of God. He does not understand how a moral, religious man like himself needed to be fundamentally changed. Also, Nicodemus has based his whole standing before God on the law and religious deeds, neither of which Jesus mentions. Nicodemus cannot understand how God could accept people apart…
Are You Born Again? (John 3:1-8)
Nicodemus was an eminently spiritual man We are so often inclined to think of lost people as naked savages, drug dealers, and murders; however, in Scripture, some of the most lost people are the most religious and spiritual people of their day. Nicodemus was such a man. He was a part of the Sanhedrin and was a Pharisee. He was one of the most eminently spiritual men of his day. He recognized that Jesus was a man that came from…
Jesus is Lord (John 2:13-25)
Jesus acts with authority Jesus walks into the temple and begins giving orders. He physically removes animals, tables, money, etc. from the temple. He speaks and acts as One Who has ultimate authority. His command is law; His Word is to be obeyed. He stands in defense of His Father’s house, and no one is able to oppose His will. The Jews want to see a sign The Jews were taken back by Jesus’ brazen display of authority. They could…
Abundant Life is in Jesus (John 2:1-12)
John has told us in John 20:31 that he has written this Gospel so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, that He is the Son of God, and that we find life in Him. This passage where Jesus turns water into wine is meant to prove these three points: Jesus is the Christ Moses spoke of a prophet that would come after him and in his likeness. It was this prophet that we were to follow. This…
Jacob’s Ladder to Heaven
Jesus continues to invite others to follow Him Jesus now finds Philip and tells him to follow Him. Philip immediately follows Christ and recognizes that He is the Messiah. The invitation to salvation is an invitation to follow Christ and become like Him. Philip brings Nathaniel to Jesus Philip finds Nathaniel and tells him that they have found the messiah. This messiah was Jesus of Nazareth. (At this time, they believed that Joseph was Jesus’ father.) Nathaniel is invited to…
Come and See (John 1:35-42)
Upon hearing John the Baptist’s testimony two disciples follow Jesus John’s disciples understood that belief in Christ and following Him are one and the same. They knew that they must leave off following earthly pursuits and pursue Christ. To be a Christian is to follow Christ. If you are not following Christ, you are not a true believer. Jesus invites them to come and see where He was staying Jesus invites the two disciples to come and learn from Him…