Sunday School Lesson for March 25, 2012: Nicodemus Learns of New Birth (John 3:1-25; Numbers 21:4-9)

A word to my friends: You’ve all been a great encouragement to me during this dry spell. My pen dried up for a minute. No one to blame but myself. Time to get back to my first love. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. I can see Jesus in you.


 John 3:13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.


 John 3:15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”


 John 3:19a This is the verdict: Light has come into the world..


While there are many great lessons in the Gospel of John and several significant truths in this third chapter, the intent of writers of this set of Sunday School lessons is to introduce you and to have you focus on the person of Jesus. Who is He? Where did He come from? What is His purpose? What uniquely qualifies Him for this purpose? In essence, the focus is not on the full message of the Gospel, but rather the most significant message of the Gospel. To quote the old hymn, “Everybody ought to know… who Jesus is”. The beauty of this passage is that Jesus declares Himself to Nicodemus and to us. He provides the record. According to His Word, He came from Heaven. That was different. Many before Him declared that they were called by God, but Jesus declared that He came from God. That He is God, literally One with God. The truth is: only He can make that claim. If you’re going to get to know Him, you’re going to have to get to know Him as God, not anyone else. Very God is how theologians have defined Him. Messiah was the expectation, nothing less. He is the Desire of the ages. Careful study and interpretation of the Scriptures, strict adherence to the traditions of old planted and nurtured within the culture of the Jews an unquenchable Hope for One who would deliver them. He had been typified in their history by the great patriarchs and heroes of their past, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samson, and on and on. The people of Israel were clearly awaiting His appearance.

With His words and the miracles that He performed, He filled the requirement. They marveled at His words; He spoke as one in authority. They knew His earthly heritage, but His wisdom was greater than any they had ever encountered. There where never any questions from Him, except rhetorical ones. Never did he utter any doubt. He knew whereof He spoke. It was evident. That authority extended into the unseen realm, where even the devils trembled at the sound of His voice.

As far as the miracles were concerned, never had the miraculous come so close, become so personal. He opened blind eyes, He healed the lame, the sick.. He personally fed thousands. These were all miracles of deliverance. Miracles from a Savior; a personal Savior. A savior who can know you so intimately that He can then minister to you personally, individually. With the ability to speak to your deepest need, He is able to save you, to change you, to redeem you personally…to the uttermost. The beauty of the gift that Jesus offers is that He’ll save you from destruction, then change you at your very core, so as to present you spotless and perfect before His Father in eternity. Isn’t that good news?

The conclusion of the matter is clear: Jesus is the Light of all creation, the express image of the Father throughout. That great Light, from which all things were created, has come to us to heal. We are only required to believe. Have faith Beloved. God has not left us alone. Messiah has come. He told us so …Himself.


 Shalom, .


wb


John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.