For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 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.
John 3:16-21
In the past year, I have returned over and over to chapter 3 of the Gospel of John. This is arguably the most famous chapter in the Bible. It contains those enigmatic words, “born again,” as well as that most famous of Bible verses, John 3:16 (which begins our passage above).
John 3 tells the story of a prominent, religious man – an expert in doctrine and liturgy – who comes to talk to Jesus secretly, by night. He is Nicodemus the Pharisee, and he takes the political, intellectual, physical, and emotional risk of approaching Jesus to seek answers to his burning questions about who Jesus is.
Jesus tells Nicodemus that no one can enter God’s kingdom unless they are born again (vs. 3), and then makes the telling comment, “You are Israel’s teacher, and you do not understand these things?” (vs. 10). Apparently, religious expertise and practice were not adequate to providing rest for this man’s soul.
And so, Jesus tells Nicodemus the wonderful words of life – the astounding news of John 3:16 – that God loves us, died for us, and gives eternal life to all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world (vs. 14-16). Jesus goes on to say that condemnation awaits those who will not believe that Jesus is God the Savior, and those who are unwilling to come out of the darkness of sin, to enter the light of His forgiveness (vs. 18-20).
It appears that Nicodemus did become born again. He defended Jesus before his fellow Pharisees (John 7:50-52) who ultimately arranged Jesus’ death (John 11:45-53). Moreover, Nicodemus was the one who helped Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus. (John 19:38-42).
Friends, if you have never seriously considered the words of John 3, I encourage you to do so. The whole chapter calls each of us to a “come to Jesus moment.” Really.
If that act is a step too far for you, then consider committing to seeking the truth in this matter, wherever the truth leads (vs. 21). If the God of John 3:16 exists, then He will draw you near. (Hebrews 11:6)
In this new year 2022, I invite you to join the innumerable cloud of witnesses throughout history who have come to Jesus from every tongue, culture, tribe, nation and degree of brokenness – all of whom bear witness to passing from death to life.
I am one of them.
God bless you!
Donna
