Here is the link to last week’s series, uʍop-ǝpᴉsd∩ in Cana
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil.
John 3:19 (WEB)
Well, what’s upside-down about John chapter three?
The very first thing that seems upside-down is the fact that Nicodemus just cannot believe. After all, he is religious.
He is a highly esteemed Pharisee, and well educated in the Mosaic law, the Messianic prophecies and most of all, has seen the miracles of Jesus firsthand. How can he not believe?
Look once more at the key verse.
Jesus is the Light of the world. But people crouch in the dark places so they can hold on to what they like.
It’s not always because they can’t understand God’s Word. Many simply don’t want to understand it.
Does that grip your heart?
It should.
People can actually believe that Jesus was more than a good man, thinking that is enough to be redeemed, yet still they remain separated from God.
Too many think they are going to Heaven because they believe that there was once a good man named Jesus.
Do you see the error of that belief?
- Jesus used to be alive but is no longer.
- Jesus was good but not the Savior.
Some simply don’t want Jesus, even if He is the Savior of the world.
Who are these people?
They were the Pharisees and other religious leaders.
They were you and me before we gave our hearts to Jesus.
They are people who have rejected the Light of the world.
As John 3 opens, Nicodemus visits Jesus at night. We don’t know why Nicodemus chose a nighttime visit, but hiding seems a plausible reason for his choice. If he sought Jesus for a personal quest, then Nicodemus may have a lot to lose among his colleagues.
Nicodemus mentions, in the text that he is aware of all the miracles that Jesus has performed during His ministry. He tells Jesus,
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
John 3:2 (ESV)
Nicodemus has stopped short of proclaiming his faith in Jesus. He’s essentially saying Jesus is a good man who God uses. He believes in God, but not that Jesus is Lord.
Of course, we don’t know whether or not Nicodemus gave his heart to Jesus later on. We certainly know that he must have loved Jesus. Take a look at his defense of Jesus later on in John 7:50-52
Read John 19 to see his brave love for Jesus following the crucifixion. He risked a lot.
But what was missing?
Let’s join Jesus and Nicodemus for a little more of the conversation in chapter three.
Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness.
John 3:9-11 (WEB)
The “We” that Jesus mentions is Himself, the Father and the Spirit. Jesus is giving Nicodemus firsthand knowledge of what He has seen and done in Heaven. “But you do not receive our witness.”
Nicodemus should have believed Jesus was the Christ. He had all he needed to believe. Jesus was right in front of him.
“…Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
John 20:29 (WEB)
Do you see? Believing without receiving is not salvation.
Overcoming the human desire of self-determination is a hard thing but not always a bad thing.
We need some level of self-determination to live out our lives. But when our need to be in control keeps us from humbly submitting our lives to Christ Jesus, it is tragic and hopeless.
You can sense the sorrow that must have been in Jesus’ voice.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:18
Do you remember this verse? You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.
James 2:19 (WEB)
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13 (WEB)
Now, this study is not meant to confuse you or make you feel frustrated. I hope it will cause you to examine your own heart to be sure that you have surrendered yourself to Jesus, and that by believing in the Savior, you will find your life.
But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
John 3:21 (WEB)
This week, I hope that you will spend time reading all of chapter three. But if you don’t read any other passage in this week’s devotion, look at arguably the greatest of all the passages in the Bible about God’s love for the world. John 3:16-18.
And by the way, look who got it right.
John the Baptist (not to be confused with John the disciple and author of the Gospel of John).
So, here are the verses from chapter three with the word believe:
John 3:12 (2x’s), 15, 16, 18(3x’s), 36
Share the Gospel in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 