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The Gospel of John: Jesus, the Light of the World
The New Birth John 3
Jesus knew about the new birth, Nicodemus was about to understand.
Q1 Last fall our country watched one of the closest presidential elections in history. At one time on election night, Al Gore called George W. Bush and conceded. Not long after, Mr. Gore called again, taking back his concession.
ÜWould you have been interested in hearing those conversations?
ÜWhat might you have learned about those men from listening in?
Q2 John 3 contains one of the most important recorded conversations in the Bible. John 3 begins with Nicodemus seeking Jesus.
ÜWhat is your impression of Nicodemus from what we see?
ÜWhy do you think he came at night? Why at all?
Q3 Jesus’ reply in 3:3 seems to have nothing to do with Nicodemus’ words in 3:2.
ÜWhy do you think Jesus brought up the topic of the new birth?
ÜWhat are some of the positive images associated with birth or having children?
[See note at bottom on “water and Spirit” in 3:5.]
Q4 Why do you think Nicodemus responded to Jesus’ explanation with such amazement (v. 9)?
Q5 Why does Jesus express amazement at Nicodemus’ ignorance in 3:10-12? When Jesus calls Nicodemus “master,” He is calling him Israel’s “teacher,” a compliment. But, Nicodemus should know what Jesus is talking about.
Q6 How does the story of lifting up the snake in the wilderness illustrate our need and Christ’s offer (14-15; Numbers 21:4-9)?
Q7 What impresses you about God’s act of live (3:16-17)?
Q8 How and why does our response to God’s Son determine our destiny (18-21)?
ÜWhy is our personal response to Jesus so important?
Q9 John 3:22-26 returns to the work of John the Baptizer. What do you think motivated his disciples to raise the issue of Jesus’ ministry?
Q10 How did John demonstrate by his attitude and actions that Jesus was superior?
Q11 How can we show Jesus is superior in our lives?
Special Note on John 3:5.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
The exact meaning of this verse has been debated since the origin of the church. Some of the frequent efforts to describe this verse see it speaking of:
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Water baptism
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Water birth
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A woman’s water breaking in physical birth
These views tend to have one thing in common: they tend to separate the water and the Spirit; saying they talk about two different things.
Pastor Johnston sees John 3:5 as speaking about only one thing, the new birth. Jesus describes it as a water-Spirit birth.
Why?
1. Jesus is talking about the new birth, explaining it in spiritual terms. When Nicodemus thinks of physical birth, he has made a mistake.
2. The terms “of water and Spirit” are governed by one preposition in the original (ek), seen in English as our word “of.” I think he did that intentionally, letting us know one thing, not two, was pictured.
3. The Bible writer stresses the quality, or type, of birth here. Whatever he’s talking about, he’s not giving a lecture about what kind of water he used (no Perrier).
4. Most importantly, Jesus chided Nicodemus that as the teacher of Israel (3:10) he should have known what Jesus spoke of. I believe that means the OT, Nicodemus’ textbook, holds the key.
5. Ezekiel 36:25-26 speaks of one result Christ’s reign will have. He will cleanse His people, and give them His Spirit.
I think John 3:5 speaks of the cleansing and Holy Spirit-influence that will occur in believers after trusting Christ.