John 3:1-21
25 September 2013, CMA
(Disclaimer/Warning: The following has been prepared in informal english/style. Also they are not entirely original. You may see word-by-word cut-and-paste from other sources, without even proper credit/reference. Also some of the presented thoughts could be wrong - so use your own judgement)
Backdrop
Jesus started his ministry around the age of 30. His ministry goes on for not long - maybe till He is ~33. Just 3-4 years of work on earth made him the most influential person ever, in a positive way (so people better heed to him - talking of role models).
Now here, this instance could be still early on in Jesus's ministry. But by this time, He has already done enough miracles and wonders, such that scores of people, excluding skeptics like Pharisees, have started noticing that He is from God and started believing Him (John 2:23).
At the same time, Pharisees are not liking any of it. But not all - Nicodemus (or Nic) is a Pharisee, an exception, who actually began believing that indeed Jesus is from God. He now comes at night (why night? was he afraid of other Pharisees to come in day?) to personally meet and check with Jesus.
Also, Nic might be like a typical “straight A’s” guy, someone on top of the world (by world’s standards). But also, so called, “great” guys like him can be deceived into believing that they have everything figured out. For instance, Nic might have come, walking in, confidently believing he had salvation. As, he was smart (/ teacher of Israel). So, as Nic walks in, Jesus clarifies right away (about salvation), seeing it as a huge problem (not understanding salvation) in Nic’s life.
Discussion Question Set 1
What all did Nic believe about “being in God’s Kingdom”?
In what ways Jesus corrected him about “being in God’s Kingdom”? (In other words: what were Nic’s surprises upon meeting Jesus? - given that he was a Jew and also supposedly very educated and smart)
- Since Nic was a Jew and a descendant of Abraham, he must have been assuming that he is already a child of God / in the Kingdom of God. Jesus, knowing Nic was wrong in that, wastes no time (as it was a very critical issue in Nic’s life) and starts clarifying on that (about how one enters God’s Kingdom) right from the beginning of their meeting.
-- Note, Nic was a member of the Jewish ruling council (a very high profile position, by world’s standards) and a teacher of Israel. So he was supposed to have an “elite” status by world’s standards and also supposedly very educated & very smart. But again, like make highly smart and educated people, He still needed God to open his heart and mind to understand how to have eternal life. Same for us - we should primarily depend on God over our own flesh to understand important aspects of life. No matter how smart/clever/hard-working we may be, we always need God in every aspect of life …
-- And again, to many Jews, to be born a Jew was to be born into the kingdom of God. Imagine the shocked look on the face of Nic when Jesus told him that his natural birth (as a Jew) will not save him, and that he must be “reborn” from above.
-- At-least Nic did/got one thing right - he went to Jesus. And Jesus, like He always does to His followers, pulls out critical issues from his life, and corrects it. We must also always go to Jesus, with everything in life. In our time with Jesus, like a good Shepard, He will illuminate issues we need to aware of.
Discussion Question Set 2
On seeing various signs and wonder from Jesus, why did only Nicodemas come to Jesus and not also the other Pharisees (who were also supposedly highly educated)? Do you see the same response among some people today?
-- Quite contrary to other Pharisees, Nic is able to acknowledge that Jesus is from God - good for Nic.
God continues to do signs and wonders today through us Christians - We are His living, breathing Body. We have His Holy Spirit. And remember, Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 that He will be with us always till end of ages. Bible says “Heavens declare the glory of God” and so “men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). But many still miss out - Why?
Discussion Question Set 3
What all do you learn from John 3:1-21 towards trying to live out Matthew 28:19 ("Go and make disciples ...") in the campus? (Remember Matthew 28:19 is the mission given to the Church body by Jesus)
-- John 3:2:"2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” ”. - When people see God working in us and through us, people will come and ask.
-- John 3:21: “21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” - Yea, we should live like this.
-- My sister & mom came across a Christian lady whose ministry was to care & pray for sick. They met her and saw good things happening in her ministry and started believing in Jesus. In each one of our case too, when we are Christ-like in our classes, as doctors, scientists, people will be drawn to God by seeing the work of God in and around us Christians. Especially, when they see love in us … love for each other, love for people … because love is greatest of all (1 Corinthians 13:13) ... as God is Himself love …