Blogging Through The Gospels: John 3

Welcome to John 3, everyone! This is quite possibly the best Gospels chapter that I have EVER read…this chapter is a treasure trove, packed full with spiritual gems!

If you haven’t read it yet, John 3 talks about Nicodemus’ nighttime interview with Jesus, and John the Baptist.  

I must say that I really admire John the Baptist for what he said in this chapter, and so I’ll do a little “pre-shower” on him before moving onto our SOAP.

OK. The situation is like this: both John and Jesus are in their ministry, baptizing people. John’s ministry is fading out, but Jesus’ ministry is gaining speed. Some of John’s disciples note that more people are coming to Jesus, rather than John. So they confront John about this. What does John say?

“A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” ~John 3:27-30

I must say, I was really impressed with what John said there at the end:

“He must become greater; I must become less.”

John had no ambitions to make people think that he was the Christ, or the most important person in this plan. He was simply the forerunner, telling everyone what was about to happen and who was coming. He was content with this role, did it well, and supported Jesus. All I can say is, that it must take a very humble man to say what John said. Wow.

OK, onto our SOAP! Our Scripture passage today comes from Nicodemus’ interview with Jesus—such beautiful truths and lyrical teachings. This is the part of John that I love the best—the beautiful, true teachings of Jesus. I don’t have room to quote all of what I love about John 3 here, but I’ve picked out the best of the best. Really, you should read it yourself!

Scripture:

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes him may have eternal life. 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.” ~John 3:14-17

Observation:

In the first part of this passage, Jesus refers to an event which occurred during the Israelites’ march through the desert. As an Israelite teacher, Nicodemus must have known this story well. For the rest of us, I’ll recap and give some background:

The Israelites had disobeyed God again. So God chose to let deadly desert snakes into the camp, who started killing off just about everyone. The Israelites cried out against Moses, and then God told Moses what to do: build a bronze snake, and put it on a pole. Hold it high above the people. Anyone who looks at the pole will live!

So that’s the background that Jesus and Nicodemus have as they discuss this snake-on-a-pole story. Jesus is saying that just like the bronze snake was lifted up, so too will Jesus be lifted up, so all can have not just temporary life, but eternal life. Wow.

Of course, we all know John 3:16, how God sent his only Son to us, so that any who believe would not perish but have eternal life. Isn’t that wonderful? Yes it is! But it gets better with the following verse:

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

As much as I love John 3:16, I really like John 3:17. It’s such a comforting verse, that God didn’t send his Son down to earth with an iron rod to infer suffering and distress to everyone, no! God sent his son so that we could believe, be saved, and spend eternity with Him! Now that’s wonderful.

Application:

God has done so much for you, and he wants everyone to believe in his Son, be saved, and spend eternity with him. Will you believe in him?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you so much for the Bible, and all the things I can learn. You are such an awesome God! Help me to believe on You more, and trust you in all the things I do. Amen.