Welcome to Day 7 of our 40 Day challenge! John 3:1-17

(Catch up with us, with our reading list, and Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6)

Today we are in John 3:1-17:

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John 3:1-17

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

 

“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.”  Jesus was telling Nicodemus what was going to take place. But he couldn’t understand, perhaps until it was happening.  The Israelites with Moses had absolutely no idea the greater significance of what they were doing with the snake on the pole. They only knew their great need for healing, and they were obedient. Nicodemus came to Jesus in secret, hoping to learn if He was worth risking it all.

We aren’t told what Nicodums went away thinking or when he came to faith. But we do know that Nicodemus was there after the crucifixion, bringing 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes for His burial (John 19:39).

Nicodemus seemed understandably confused. Jesus said he had to be born again (when he was old! Surely you cannot enter your mother’s womb again!) He talked about how the wind blows and how it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Then Jesus said something that a Pharisee most certainly would know. 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. A Pharisee certainly would know about the bronze snake on a pole being lifted up and bringing healing to all who looked at it.

We aren’t told when Nicodemus knew Jesus was the Son of God, but we know that when Jesus became the curse on the pole, Nicodemus understood.

Options for further  journaling or discussion throughout the challenge:

• Choose a part of the passage to write out by hand. Writing by hand helps us slow down and focus on what the Lord might highlight for us in the passage. Our brains can focus and remember better by writing than just reading alone.
• Journal about what the passage brings to mind. Does the passage tell us anything about God? Does it tell us anything about our response to Him?
• Does your heart respond in gratitude to any part of the passage? Write or pray your gratitude to the Lord.

We’ll see you tomorrow, for Day 8 and John 4:4-29

♥ Samantha