1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 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. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” —John 3:1-21
*Introduction: * In Numbers 21:5-9, during Israel’s forty years of wandering in the wilderness, an event took place that Jesus references to help Nicodemus understand the saving work of the Messiah. As judgment upon the people’s constant complaining, God sent venomous snakes to infest their camp. In desperation, the Israelites begged Moses to intercede on their behalf. Moses’ prayerful petition was answered with a display of divine grace, as God showed mercy to His rebellious people. He instructed Moses to make a bronze replica of a snake and raised it above the camp on a pole. Those who were bitten would be healed if they simply look up at it, thereby acknowledging their guilt and expressing faith in God’s forgiveness and healing power.
How can it be that God would use such a simple act to provide life to the poisoned? This is the same wonderment that Nicodemus has with his conversation with Jesus. Jesus masterfully answers his questions, revealing our need for spiritual regeneration, how faith secures our regeneration and warns of the evil in man’s heart that blinds us to these truths.
5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. —Numbers 21:5-9
1. How am I born again? (v.1-8)
- a. The ruler needed a redeemer (v.1-2)
- b. Nicodemus meets Face-to-face and Mind-to-mind (v.3-9)
- c. Born in the flesh and Born of Spirit. (v.5-8)
It is not enough to
2. How can these things be? (v.9-16)
- a. Acknowledge human limitations (v.10-13)
- b. The new birth is possible because of the great, boundless love of God (v.16)
God’s love is not a vague,
- c. Repent as did the snake-bitten Israelites (v.14-15)
- d. Believe in the person, power, and Deity of Jesus (v.16)
3. How am I to see the light? (v.17-21)
- a. Jews expected the Messiah to Judge; Jesus came to save. (v.17)
- b. Justification by faith (v.18)
- c. Condemnation by unbelief (v.18)
- d. Humanity is not morally and ethically good or even neutral.
- e. Lovers of darkness reject the light (v.19-20)
Unbelief is not simply
; it is also a . —S. Lewis Johnson, Jr
- f. God’s light reveals what is true in us. (v.21)
Jesus calls us to let go of our dependence on
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?
How would you describe what it means to be born again to someone?
Why do people reject God? How can we share the truth in love to those who are spiritually dead?
How can you humbly embrace your dependance on Jesus this week?