(if only we could understand it)
John 3:1-21
Copied/Adapted from "Will the Real JESUS please stand up?" by Mark E. Ashton (1992)
Introduction
What does the phrase "born again" mean to you?
Read John 3:1-21
What are some of the things that we can gather about Nicodemus from v1-2?
Pharisee of the Ruling council = Member of Jewish governing BODYwith both spiritual and political power. Also respected as a religion professor.
Afraid for his reputation - came at night
Teachable and curious
Compare Nicodemus' and Jesus' ideas of what 'Born Again' means in vv 4-8
Re: vv13-14, the account of the bronze snake is in Numbers 21:4-9.
(Try and ignore vv 9-13, and the details of Spirit-moving until after the study is done. It's confusing, and not obviously helpful)
According to Jesus, what is his identity and purpose? v14-17
v15 all who believe may have eternal life
v 16 all who believe in Him have eternal life, and not perish
v17 not come to judge; came that the world can be saved through Him
Actually, Jesus doesn't identify Himself as the Son of Man, nor as the Son of God in this passage. If this someone points this out, then look at John 9:35-39, where he identifies Himself as the Son of Man. It should be clear in the 3:16 passage that the Son of Man and Son of God are the same. If this is still a problem, look at John 10:32-38, where Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of Man.
How can you get eternal life?
What happens if you don't get eternal life? (v 16)
What does this tell you about eternal life?
Jesus talks about judgment in the next several verses (vv 18-21). He says that those who believe are not judged, but those who do not believe have been judged already.
Why are they judged?
What is the judgment?
What does this tell you about eternal life?
What do you think of this?
Note: Jesus doesn't specifically claim to be the Son of God in this passage. He merely states that the Son of God is the one we must believe to get eternal life.
Some useful verses possibly are:
Mark 2:10, John 9:35-41 -- Jesus claims that he the "Son of Man"
John 10:34-39 -- Jesus claims to be the "Son of God"
John 14:1-14 -- Jesus is in the Father, and the Father in Jesus. referencing Father to God, this implies that Jesus is the Son of God
John 7:43-51 -- Jesus acknowledges being Son of God