How wonderful that God allowed us to poke along reading and writing the first two chapters in John’s gospel. Therefore, we’re reading chapter 3 this week, when our culture celebrates Valentine’s day, which symbolizes love.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! … This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us….” (1 John 3:1, 16). 
Read John 3:1-4.
Last week’s newsletter mentioned Salt to the Sea, a fictional retelling of the German military transport Gustloff’s disastrous sinking during World War II. After I wrote the newsletter, I read the author’s historical notes, which included interviews with survivors. Refugees traveled on foot, horseback, in carts, by whatever means possible to escape the advancing Soviet army. With the book drifting aside to make room to read a new story, I started a fantasy, pondered the fantasy I’m writing, and thought ahead to this chapter in John’s gospel, which describes Nicodemus approaching Jesus in darkness.
Zodhiates posed three possible reasons for Nicodemus’s nighttime visit with Jesus:1
- fear of opposition
- Jesus was busy teaching during the day
- Nicodemus was busy during the day with leadership duties as a Pharisee on the Jewish ruling council
Any of these reasons might have been true for Nicodemus, and at least two could be true for us today. Regardless the reason, we come to Jesus in our darkness.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).
- He shines his Light into our darkness.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).
- We come to him by whatever means it takes to draw us closer to God.
- On foot, one step at a time.
- Or perhaps in pursuit, as on horseback.
- In a cart, aided by another person, as in the man whose friends carried him to Jesus. (Mark 2:1-5)
- Nicodemus declared his faith statement: he knew Jesus came from God by the “signs, wonders, miracles … by Jesus … [as] proof … of [his] divine mission.”2
- As Jesus explained the next step, we encounter his saying, “Very truly…”
- “I who AM the Amen [Truth itself] tell you as a … certain and infallible truth.”3
“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation” (Revelation 3:14).
- One cannot truly “see and enjoy the privileges of the divine kingdom”4 unless they “have received new spiritual life.”5
- Jesus didn’t point a finger at Nicodemus.
- Luke recorded Jesus’ explanation of the kingdom of God,
“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:21).
- Nicodemus took Jesus literally and was willing to ask for clarification.
How can we move from seeking Jesus in our darkness to walking with him in Light?
How would you describe the way you first approached Jesus?
How has Jesus shown himself to you as the Amen, the indisputable Truth?
Read John 3:5-8.
- Jesus said one must be born of water, referring to water as an “instrument of baptism.”6
- Those who perished in the shipwreck were submerged in water.
- The waters close over our heads in baptism, which is one way we publicly confess what we’ve already chosen.
- Jesus said we must also be born of the Spirit.
- We choose to die to self and live a new spiritual life in Christ.
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. … Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him” (Romans 6:4, 8).
- Yes, this is a moment in time decision, but we also follow Jesus’ call to live the choice in daily life.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13).
- Why shouldn’t we be surprised at Jesus’ saying? “You must be born again.”
- As with the wind, the Spirit is not physically visible, yet we see the effects.
- The wind blows where it wishes, an active will.
- The word for love in John 3:16 means an act of the will.
- We see here a wonderful picture of the Trinity.
- John later wrote that those who are born of God (become God’s children) are [born into] love.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. … This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:7, 9).
- In this passage in John chapter 3, the Spirit moves in an active will of love to bring new spiritual life to believers.
What is the significance of the waters of baptism for us?
How can we live out Jesus’ command in our daily lives?
How would you describe the Trinity to someone who is just coming to know God?
Read John 3:9-13.
- Nicodemus expressed his confusion and Jesus gently rebuked him.
- Have you not read the prophets?
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. … you will be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:25-28).
- Ah ha! moment: Jesus spoke for the Trinity also in verse 11.
- Jesus said “we know,” “we speak,” “we have seen,” and “we bear witness to” or testify including the Spirit.
- He [declared] “with the authority of a witness, one who knows.”7
- It’s up to us to accept Jesus’ testimony in belief.
How does Ezekiel’s prophecy point to this passage and Jesus’ teaching?
How is the Trinity meaningful for you?
Read John 3:14-16.
- Those who choose not to believe will perish, experience eternal death, and be deprived of eternal life.8
- Eternal life may be defined as a future “blessedness of the righteous”9 and a “life of [perfect happiness and joy and] glory in the kingdom of God “ for Jesus’ true disciples.10
- God loved all mankind who live on the earth.
- He loved with an act of his will, finding joy11 in us.
- Those who believe and rest their hope in Jesus as God’s Anointed priest, prophet, and King will receive eternal life.
What is the significance of God’s love in these key verses?
How do you envision eternal life personally?
How will you respond to God’s love letter?
- Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study New Testament, King James Version (AMG Publishers, 1991), 306-307.
- Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (AMG Publishers, 1992), 1286.
- Zodhiates, Dictionary, 135.
- Zodhiates, 508.
- Zodhiates, 364.
- Zodhiates, 1403.
- Zodhiates, 946.
- Zodhiates, 231.
- Zodhiates, 107.
- Zodhiates, 704.
- Zodhiates, 65.