Under the Cover of Darkness
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.a”
4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spiritb gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘Youc 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 I tell you the truth, 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.d 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.e
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,f 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. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.g 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”h
John the Baptist’s Testimony About Jesus
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jewa over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christb but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 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. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.
31 “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for Godc gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”d
a Or born from above; also in verse 7
b Or but spirit
c The Greek is plural.
d Some manuscripts Man, who is in heaven
e Or believes may have eternal life in him
f Or his only begotten Son
g Or God’s only begotten Son
h Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 15.
a Some manuscripts and certain Jews
b Or Messiah
c Greek he
d Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 30.
The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), Jn 3:1–36.
Under the cover of darkness, Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling counsel visits Jesus. That little bit gives us a great deal of insight into this encounter with Jesus. Obviously, Nicodemus did not want this visit to be public. Perhaps this is a private meeting because Nicodemus was intrigued by Jesus personally. Nicodemus has already determined that Jesus is from God based upon the signs and wonders Jesus was performing. John does not mention what signs Jesus had been performing, probably healings, but we do not know any specifics. Nicodemus does not seem to be a skeptic concerning these miracles. He attested that they were authentic as a result he concluded Jesus was from God.
Then Jesus launches the discussion by saying,"You cannot enter the Kingdom of God without being born again." Because Nicodemus was a member of the ruling counsel his questions had to due with how God could rule in real time and space. How can the Kingdom of God come on earth as it is in heaven? Jesus is baiting Nicodemus to come to a new understanding of life born of the Spirit. You must be born again. It is a new and different existence. The Kingdom of God is not concerned with the same things as the kingdoms of the world.
Then Jesus establishes the new order. This new order of God is based not on condemnation but upon God's love. God loves the world. He is not trying to find reason to bring condemnation, rather He is loving working to bring real salvation, real living to this world. The problem is people struggle to believe love is based upon God's character not the actions of women and men. This seems unbelievable because human love is usually based upon performance. God's love is demonstrated by sacrifice and humility.
Jesus tells Nicodemus, you need to come into the light, don't hide under the cover of darkness. Live for God, love and be loved by God. Believe it, God loves you and has good in store for you.
Can you simply believe that God has a better life planned for you to live out? Can you believe that Jesus came to love you not condemn you? To believe you have to give up trying to be the judge. Simply live in the light of the love of God.
Nicodemus would come into the light and a very dark time. John tells us in chapter 19 that Nicodemus joined Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus body for burial. He cared for Jesus when many others were too afraid to identify with him. Nicodemus believed.
Follow
John 1:29–51 (NIV84)
Jesus the Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
Jesus’ First Disciples
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Our writer John was first a follower of John the Baptist. Although he goes named it is more than likely that He was the unnamed of the first two to follow Jesus. This is remarkable, notice John the Baptist was not trying to hang onto as many followers as he could. He knew his calling was to point people to "the one on whom the Spirit would come to rest." Now we know from Luke's gospel that John was a relative of Jesus, possibly his cousin. So John had known Jesus prior to the day he proclaimed Jesus as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
John the Baptist ministered along the Jordan River in what is known as the fields of Elijah, not too far from Jericho. This is a little north of the Dead Sea along the base of the Jordan Valley. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth at 1,410.8 feet below sea level. This is interesting to note for two reasons. First, God sent his son to earth to demonstrate His great love. He came as a man, like us. He came to the lowest place on earth and identified through baptism with us, so that all righteousness might be fulfilled. Geographically he came to the lowest place and He also comes to our lowest place. There he identifies with us and demonstrates his love for us. It is from our lowest place that he calls us to follow him.
On the Northeastern shores of the Dead Sea a young shepherd boy is said to have first uncovered what has become known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. This amazing archeological find also introduced us to a community of religious separatist known as the Qumran Community. They had separated into the dessert to live a life free from the political/religious corruption they felt had polluted the faith of Jerusalem. Like a group known as the Essenes they left to live a pure and holy life. It is possible that John had some interaction with this community as he too was one who had separated into the wilderness. This is where he preached his message of repentance.The message of repentance called people to turn from their pride, and leave their unjust ways.
John the Baptist called people to turn from their sin, and on the day he saw the Spirit of God come upon Jesus he called the people to turn to Jesus. It is one thing to turn from sin, but the real beauty comes when we turn to Jesus. Because Jesus forgives sins and leads us into real living.
I am also impressed with John the Baptist. He knew he was and he was confident in what God had called him to do. He was called to point people to Jesus. He was not called to try to be Jesus. It is easy to try to be Jesus, some call it a messiah complex. We try to fix everyone's problems. And sometimes those problems can overwhelm. To understand what you are called to, you must also understand what you are not called to. Can I encourage you and release some of your stress today? You don't have to be Jesus, you just need to point people to Jesus. This takes humility and the willingness to let some people go.
Finally, I am impressed with John the author of the gospel. He was a follower of John the Baptist first, but he was really looking for Jesus. He didn't know it, but when John the Baptist told him Jesus was the lamb of God, he followed. And he didn't make a big deal about it either. Throughout this gospel John goes unnamed. And here we find the name of one of the first two disciples was Andrew, but John goes unnamed. The point is John was not worried about his name, he was just interested in following Jesus.
Believe & Know
Welcome to (Re)Discover Jesus.
Here you will find today's reading from John and a short devotion from Matt Larson. Enjoy!
John
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understooda it.
6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.b
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent,c nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,d who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,e f who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.a”
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”b
24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize withc water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Jesus the Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
a Or darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
b Or This was the true light that gives light to every man who comes into the world
c Greek of bloods
d Or the Only Begotten
e Or the Only Begotten
f Some manuscripts but the only (or only begotten) Son
a Or Messiah. “The Christ” (Greek) and “the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “the Anointed One”; also in verse 25.
b Isaiah 40:3
c Or in; also in verses 31 and 33
The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), Jn.
Everything Starts and Ends with Jesus! He is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end. He is the Author and Finisher of Our Faith When I say everything I mean everything. Our guide in this journey (John) tells us life begins with Jesus. This life is not just the every day, hum drum kind of life or bios life. John instead uses the word zoē. This is real living. It is adventurous, loving, creative, awe inspiring living. This real kind of living begins with Jesus.
This morning as we wake the sun is a little lower than what it was last Monday, at least that is our perception. Yesterday we began daylight savings time. And so as I am writing this blog the sun is just beginning to rise in the sky. John tells us Jesus is the one who enlightens our existence. Jesus brings light to our day. He shows up in the dark areas of loneliness and offers the goodness of God. He brings clarity in our times of confusion. This light exposes the areas of sin our life. Obstructions that are keeping us from seeing truth, goodness and kindness are vanquished with the pure light of Jesus.
I love being "the idea guy." I love having fresh ideas, except usually they cause a great deal of work. God initiated the greatest idea of all. He chose to make you (and me) his child. Jesus gives us the right to be children of God. God wants us to be His children. He created us and even though our tendency is to run from Jesus, He seeks us. He restores us. To unlock this privilege we have to believe.
Introduced in the opening chapter and recurring again and again in later chapters, certain words stand out to draw your attention: believe, light, world, life, know, love, truth, witness. The word believe is used 98 times in the book of John that is more than 9x more than any other Gospel. And The Word Know is used 90 times. John wants us to not only come to believe in Jesus, but to know Him.As we (Re)Discover Jesus in this next 30 days, I pray that we will move from just believing in Jesus to truly knowing Jesus as the one who gives us true life, as the one who enlightens our day and the one who calls us His own.
