THE AGE OF THE SPIRIT (JOHN 3:1-21)
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God greets Mother Teresa at the Pearly Gates. “Thou be hungry, Mother Teresa?” saith God. “I could eat,” Mother Teresa replies. So God opens a can of tuna and reaches for a chunk of rye bread and they share it.
While eating this humble meal, Mother Teresa looks down into Hell and sees the inhabitants devouring huge steaks, lobsters, pheasants, pastries and fine wines. Curious, but deeply trusting, Mother Teresa remains quiet.
The next day God again invites Mother Teresa to join him for a meal. Again, it is tuna and rye bread. Once again looking down, Mother Teresa can see the denizens of Hell enjoying caviar, champagne, lamb, truffles and chocolates. Still Mother Teresa says nothing.
The following day, mealtime arrives and another can of tuna is opened. Mother Teresa can’t contain herself any longer. Meekly, she says: “God, I am grateful to be in heaven with you as a reward for the pious, obedient life I led. But here in heaven all I get to eat is tuna and a piece of rye bread and in the Other Place they eat like emperors and kings! Forgive me, O God, but I just don’t understand…”
God sighs. “Let’s be honest, Mother Teresa,” he says. “For just two people, does it pay to cook?!”
Why did I call this chapter “The Age of the Spirit”? Because the Spirit convicts hearers of sin, cleanses us of sin and changes people’s heart. By himself and in himself, man lived an unsettled, unsatisfactory, unfulfilled, unsure and unsaved life, but he knew there was more when he met Jesus. Before Nicodemus was a risk taker for Christ (John 7:50-51, 19:39) he was a religious teacher of Israel (v 1). Before he was a new believer, Nicodemus was a national leader. He risked his reputation, respectability and responsibilities – almost his all - to have contact and conversation with Christ
What advantage does a moral person have before God? How are good people saved differently from those who are less virtuous? Why is religion unable to save man?
You Must Welcome the Chance
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Here are some quotes on our perfection:
God doesn’t use perfect people because they don’t exist!
Perfect people aren’t real and real people aren’t perfect.
Perfect people only exist in books.
There was only one perfect person in this world and they crucified Him.
I am an imperfect person loved by a perfect God.
No one is perfect…that’s why pencils have erasers.
Be better, not perfect! (Yap)
Perfect people don't drink, don't fight, don't lie, don't make mistakes and don't exist.
Nicodemus came with all the right credentials, but the kingdom of God is not within the reach of sinners or saints, but for the salvation of Christ Jesus. The three phrases born of the Spirit (vv 5, 6, 8) is contrasted with born when he is old, born from his mother’s womb (v 4) and born of the flesh (v 6).The new birth is not genealogical, physical or biological, but spiritual, heavenly and divine. The age of the Spirit’s conviction, cleansing and conversion is available to all regardless of religion, race, rank, renowned and riches, of which Nicodemus belonged – a Pharisees and a member of the Jewish ruling council (v 1). Nicodemus was a great man in his own right, but he knew his sincerity, study and social standing did not guarantee his entrance, enrolment or expedition in God’s kingdom any more than the next person, so he came to Jesus by night for the answer. It’s always puzzled readers why Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. We are unsure about time, but the reason was sure. He came for (gar) the miracles, which appeared five verses ago in chapter two (John 2:23). The verb “can” appears six times (vv 2, 3, 4 twice, 5, 9) in the conversation with Nicodemus. The Bible is clear: it is impossible, illogical and downright ignorant of sinful men to arrive at salvation by their own effort, exertion or enterprise.
Nicodemus saw Jesus merely as a rabbi, a teacher and a miracle-worker, a teacher his own level (vv 2, 10), but he acknowledged he needed someone who came from God. He was a religious man because in one verse he mentioned God two times (v 2). The Gospel of John chapter 1 gave an introduction to the verb “born”: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). It is not about age (v 4 old, KJV), parents (woman’s womb, KJV) or flesh (v 6).
The critical discussion is to be born again. What is to be born again? Is it physical? The age of the Spirit is the age of repentance, remedy and renewal. The one who sows to his flesh reaps corruption, but the person who sows to the Spirit will reap life everlasting life (Gal 6:8). Only the Spirit of God can change man’s condition - his deceit, delinquency and depravity that leads to his destiny - destruction, demise and death. Life without God is bound for extermination, expulsion, expiration. Jesus meant a rebirth not of matter, mortal whereby or hears are cleansed, changed and convicted by the Spirit. Birth is finite, physical and natural; but the Spirit’s rebirth is supernatural,
Better than that, God seeks sons, not servants. You are more than his creation; you are his children. More than a follower, you are His family. Romans tell us that they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, and to be carnally minded is death; the carnal mind is enmity against God and they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom 8:5-8, KJV) More than that, the Spirit of God wants to dwell or live in us (Rom 8:9).
You Are Worth the Cost
9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven — the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
A girl once asked a boy: “Do you love me?” The boy replied: “Yes, Dear.”
The girl continued, “Would you die for me?” The boy responded, “No. Mine is an undying love.”
Former United States Chaplain Richard C. Halverson said, “There is nothing you can to do make God love you more! There is nothing you can do to make God love you less! His love is Unconditional, Impartial, Everlasting, Infinite, Perfect!”
John is the gospel of agape love. The verb “love” occurs five times in Mark, eight times in Matthew, 13 times in Luke but an astonishing and aggressive 37 times in John - three times that of Luke, seven times of Mark, and more than the Synoptics combined. The noun for “love” makes for greater contrast and drama in the gospels. It is not found in Mark, found only once in both Matthew (24:12) and Luke (11:42) but seven times in John (5:42, 13:35, 15:9, 15:10, 15:10, 15:13, 17:26). Agape love is not a feeling or a sentiment but an action. It is an active verb. Interestingly enough, the passive voice for the verb is not found in the New Testament. All 140 occurrences of it in Greek are in the active voice – “love” instead of “be loved” or “was loved.” There is no case for passivity in love. Nicodemus came seeking for results and miracles (v 2), but Jesus told him the reason and motivation - love (v 16).
Jesus did not say, “For God so loved Israel” or “For God so loved the Jews,” but “For God so loved the world.” This is the first record of love chronologically in the New Testament, before John the Baptist was imprisoned (John 3:24) and Jesus began his ministry. More shockingly the first mention of love chronologically in the New Testament is God’s sacrificial love for the world and Gentiles (John 3:16), and it is also a testament, tribute and testimony to the first record of love in the Old Testament – Abraham’s love for Isaac (Gen 22:2). Three times Isaac is described as “your only son” (Gen 22:2, 12, 16). Moreover, Jesus’ relationship with God is described as close - co-eternal, co-equal and co-existent, but his relationship with the world is defined by what he did – he sought and saved them, he sacrificed himself for the world.
The agape love of God is positive, not negative. Why did Jesus then insist that He did not come to judge or condemn the world at His coming? Well then, who was judged, if not unbelievers, when He came? John 16:11 says, “The prince of this world now stands condemned.” If he did not come to condemn the world, why does condemnation still exist? Paul gives us the answer: “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law” (Rom 2:12). Our thoughts, words and actions were judged by the law, not by Christ.
Again, does it mean that there is no judgment? That Jesus is not any judge at all? John 12:48-49 says that judgment is awaiting the one who rejects Him and does not accept His words, but the self-condemnation will happen on the last day. The theme of judgment on the last day by Jesus is consistent with the rest of the teachings of the Bible (John 5:30, John 8:15, Acts 17:31, 1 Cor 4: 5). He will judge the living and the dead at His coming (2 Tim 4:1, Heb 10:30, 1 Peter 4:5, Rev 11:18, 16:5, 19:2, 19:11, 20:12)
You Better Weigh the Consequences
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Here are some three fun “I cannot see” riddles and their answers:
What has an eye but cannot see? (needle)
I come in winter. I cannot see, hear, or feel. I can't eat, but you can eat parts of me? (snowman)
Although I may have eyes, I cannot see. I have a round brown face with lots of acne. What am I? (potato)
I have an eye but cannot see. I’m faster than any man alive and have no limbs.
What am I? (tornado or a hurricane)
If you look you cannot see me. And if you see me you cannot see anything else. I can make anything you want happen, but later everything goes back to normal. What am I?
(your imagination)
The harmless noun “verdict” (krisis) should be translated as judgment (Matt 5:21, NASB and ESV), condemnation (John 3:19, KJV) or damnation (John 5:29) in Greek, of which the verb form (krino) appears twice in verse 17 and once in verse 18 as “condemn.” Our condemnation, however, is self-taught, self-inflicted and self-destructive. The result is we are in state of self-doubt, self-denial or self-defeat because of our self-centeredness, self-righteousness and self-defensiveness.
Light (v 19) appears five times in this passage (vv 19 twice, 20 twice, 21) and 23 times in The last section is filled with classical observations of repetition and contrasts and exegetical structure for reason (gar) and purpose clause (hina). Light, come and deeds are repeated in verses 19-21; darkness and light (v 19) and “men loved darkness” (v 19) versus “hates the light” (v 20) are contrasts, reason (gar) is repeated in verses 19-20, whereas the purpose clause (hina) is repeated in verses 20-21.
Repetition
Light (vv 19 twice, 20 twice, 21)
Come (vv 19, 20, 21)
Deeds (vv 19, 20, 21)
Contrast
v 19 darkness vs light
V 19 men loved darkness vs v 20 hates the light
For (gar)
V 19 because their deeds were evil.
V 20 (because) Everyone who does evil hates the light
In order that (hina)
V 20 that (hina) his deeds will be exposed
V 21 so that (hina) it may be seen plainly
There is no mystery to what Jesus said. Verse 19’s “light has come into the world” as perfect tense is a continuation of John the Baptist’s testimony two chapters ago: Light is come into the world” (John 1:9) in the present tense. A man of Nicodemus’ caliber would understand that Jesus’ claim that He was the person John had in mind to fulfill the great prophet John’s prophesy.
“Light + world” occurs five times in John (John 3:19, 8:12, 9:5, 11:9, 12:46). Light is contrasted with darkness and evil. Darkness means wickedness, wrongdoing and worldliness. Light means conversion, change and character.
Light
Darkness
See
Stumble
Conversion
Condemnation (John 3:20)
Virtue
Vice
Loved darkness (v 19)
Hates the light (v 20)
Light has come into the world (v 19)
will not come into the light (v 20)
Walk in the light leads to deliverance
Wander in the darkness leads to death
Manifest (John 3:19)
Muted
Truth
Trapped
Verse 19’s light and darkness is as sharp a contrast as any. Light is to see, as darkness is to stumble. Light is a virtue, but darkness is a vice. To walk in the light is deliverance, but to wander is the darkness is death.
The biggest surprise in the last section is not the contrast of darkness and light, but the emphasis given to “deeds” (vv 19, 20, 21), but this is consistent with the declaration of “verdict” in verse 19:
V 19 because (gar) their “deeds” were evil
V 20 that (hina) his deeds will be exposed
V 21 so that (hina) it may be seen plainly that what he has “done/deeds” has been done through God."
Men’s deed are evil (v 19). Sin is attractive, aggressive and addictive, Without Christ, we are surrounded by sin, subjected to sin and slaves of sin. Exposed is best translated as fault (Matt 18:15), reproved (Luke 3:19), convinced (1 Cor 14:24) and rebuke (1 Tim 5:20) because “exposed” is more the process than the punishment (reproved in KJV), more neutral than negative, with no consequences for one’s culpability.
Conclusion: The greatest love of all, actually, is not God’s love for the world, but God’s love for His Son. It is pre-history, the oldest and the truest. The Father’s love for the Son is well-documented in the Bible, again only in John (John 14:31, 15:9, 17:23-24, 17:26). John 17:23 says that the Father loved the world even as the Father had loved the Son, and John 17:24 says that the Father loved the Son before the creation of the world. Yet God the Father sacrificed His Son for lost and unworthy sinners like us. Have you participated in and shared in the greatest love of all – God’s love for His Son? Do you know recognize your Maker (John 1:10), the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29)? Do you know no one loves you more than Jesus Christ, who demonstrated His love for you by dying for sin and taking your place on the cross? Conclusion: 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” The greatest love of all is not the love you have for yourself, the love for your neighbor, the love you have for God or even the love of God for you. The greatest love of all is not God’s love for the world, but God’s love for His Son. The Father’s love for the Son is well-documented in the Bible, again only in John (John 14:31, 15:9, 17:23-24, 17:26). John 17:23 says that the Father loved the world even as the Father had loved the Son, and John 17:24 says that the Father loved the Son before the creation of the world. Yet God the Father sacrificed His Son for lost and unworthy sinners like us.
John is not only the gospel of love; it is also the gospel of “belief,” which an astonishing 100 times in John. Have you participated in and shared in the greatest love of all – God’s love for His Son? Do you know recognize your Maker (John 1:10), the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29)? Do you know no one loves you more than Jesus Christ, who demonstrated His love for you by dying for sin and taking your place on the cross?
