Getting it Right

Reading Amount:

John 2:1-5:47

Central Verse:

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God." John 3:17-18 NRSV

Food For Thought: (Questions about the text)

Most of us have heard the story of Nicodemus as someone who didn't understand what Jesus was talking about. Clearly Jesus is talking about spiritual rebirth, being "born again," and Nicodemus never understands that. When a word study is done on the words Jesus uses it is clear that Jesus' intent is both physical and spiritual. We end up putting out own one sided view on it just as Nicodemus does. In John the physical, starting with Jesus' first miracle, is just as important as the spiritual.

Connections: (time with our society)

Most of us are intimately familiar with the verses preceding the theme verse here. "For God so loved the world," for many of us this is the only scripture passage we remember. If this is the only verse we remember and we don't read on we miss the whole point of Jesus in the gospel of John. The reason that Jesus is here is to save the world not condemn it.

I've been a part of many evangelistic efforts over the years, and the worst ones have something in common. They brow beat people and do every little twists and turns to convince people that they are bad and evil. Here we see John laying out how we should approach the work of Christ in our lives and in the lives of others. Jesus is here to save not condemn. That is working to build bridges, relationships that bring about salvation not divisive finger pointing.

So why does Jesus die? Because it’s easier for us, the religious people, to point fingers and condemn, just as the leaders in Jesus day, than it is to build and reconcile. Jesus will repeatedly spend time with people and build bridges. Nicodemus doesn't get it here, but something happens in his life because we find out he is the only one brave enough to ask for Jesus' body when he is crucified. The relationship that Jesus starts here doesn't end in condemnation or brokenness. It eventually leads to a redeemed life.

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