From John 3:1-21 — Nicodemus.
I’m sure that most of us reading this post know the Gospel verse John 3:16 very well. However, a prayerful reading of the entire Nicodemus section reveals many of our foundational beliefs and truths. It includes one that is also a core truth of our Christian brothers and sisters. There is just so much provided in this one section.
3:5-6 “… no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.”
We are cleansed of original sin when baptized with water, and become God’s adopted children once born of the Spirit. We are “born again” as the Holy Spirit enters our hearts.
3:14-15 “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, — so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
From these verses we are shown that Jesus is the path to eternal life. We get a glimpse of the Paschal mystery — Jesus’ suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. We are redeemed through this mystery.
3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
Despite all of our transgressions, God wants us to join him. He saves us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb that bears all of our sins so that we are reconciled with God. Jesus is the perfect model for us.
3:19 “And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.”
3:21 “But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.”
We must go to Jesus, the light of the world, so that we may be saved. We believe in his name and that he is the redeemer, and we must walk in his ways by doing good works.
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