Wednesday, March 24
Read John 3
Think About It:
- In His description of new birth, Jesus recalls a familiar theme from Old Testament promises of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 23:1-8, Deuteronomy 30:1-6, Jeremiah 32:37-41, Ezekiel 11:16-20, Ezekiel 36:16-28, Ezekiel 37:11-14, 21-28). These passages essentially make three promises in the New Covenant: 1) The regathering of Israel; 2) The cleansing and spiritual transformation of God’s people; and 3) The reign of the Messiah over Israel and the whole world. That is why Jesus’ statement about the new birth was so strange to Nicodemus. He thought that the Jewish people already had it; they certainly weren’t looking for it. They only looked for a triumphant Messiah.
- Looking back over John 3, one might say that it is a must-read chapter of the Bible. There are four prominent ‘MUSTS’ in John 3. Can you find the four ‘MUSTS’ in the verses below? Who must do what?
- John 3:7
- John 3:14
- John 3:30
- John 3:30
Family Time:
- From verses 14-16: A long time before Jesus came to earth, when the Israelites were wandering in the desert because of their unbelief and disobedience, fiery serpents came out and started biting the people. All who were bitten would die from the poison. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it up on a pole. Wherever someone got bit, they could look up at the serpent on the pole and be healed. It was an act of faith and obedience that would save their lives!
Now, Jesus is trying to show the people a picture of who HE is! We are all sick with the poison of sin. There is nothing we can do to get rid of it. And in the end, it will kill every person who has been taken over by it. But Jesus told them, that just like that serpent on the pole, He would also be lifted up (on the cross). And all who look to HIM, will be healed. When we realize that we are lost in sin, we can look up to Jesus in faith and obedience, and be given healing and life. The ONLY way to be free from sin is through Jesus Christ. Read verse 16 again. Insert your name where it says, “the world”. He loves you so much, and desires to give you eternal life. He is the way. There is no other way. Those people who were bit by the serpents could not heal themselves. They couldn’t just buy some medicine or just rest a little and then be okay. If they didn’t look up in faith, they would die. We can’t save ourselves from sin either. We can’t try harder or just do good things to get rid of it. Without Jesus, we will die in our sin and be under the wrath of God forever. I don’t want to be there. I don’t want you to be there either. Read verse 36. Do you believe what Jesus says?
- Do you have the eternal life that He wants to give you? Take some time to think about this today! If you don’t have this life, will you come to Him and believe what He did for you to save you from your sin? And if you do have this life already, make sure you let Him know how thankful you are that He saved you from death!
