FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

John 3:1-21

Key verse: 3:16

"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.”

Today's passage is the most popular or known bible verse. You can find it under in-n-out wrappers, and even football players and wrestlers have used it as part of their persona. At the beginning of this year M. Augustine started a new fellowship called John 3:16 Fellowship or JTS. The key verse is so popular because it tells us how God loved the world. It appeals to us. One thing everyone wants is confirmation of another's love. Yet it was not given to a large crowd or even to the twelve disciples, but it was given at night in a private conversation with an old man named Nicodemus.

Proverbs 19:22a says, "what a man desires is unfailing love." but then in 20:6, it says, "many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?" Therefore it is important that all people know of God's love. Do you remember the movie Moulin Rouge? In the ending one of the key characters says, the greatest thing you'll ever know is to be loved and to love in return. 

At first it looks like what Nicodemus needs is to be born again. This is true. He needed to be born again. But it was hard for him to understand this, what he needed first was to know and accept God's love for the world. Today’s dialogue between Nicodemus and Jesus show us about God’s love. In his love he sent his Son to give us eternal life. Out of his love, he gave Jesus. And from Jesus we receive a spiritual life, eternal life, the kingdom of God, truth and light. Let’s see how their meeting went.

First, lets think about who Nicodemus was.

Look at John 3:1:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He was a man of the law. He had devoted himself to studying and practicing the law from the age of 6. Pharisees sought the strictest form of legalistic righteousness, meaning, they thought that if they could know and keep all of the laws, they would be the righteous people and have life and acceptance from God. So they spent all their time knowing the law, expounding on the law, observing the law. It was their zeal and prestige and even pride. On top of that, he was a member of the Jewish ruling council which was a small number of the top of the top.

Look at John 3:2 

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."

He also recognized that Jesus came from God based on the evidence of the miracles Jesus was performing. At this point, many of the religious leaders questioned John the Baptist and Jesus, saying, by what authority do you do these things? But Nicodemus paid attention to what jesus was doing, particularly the miracles, and admitted that it was clear he came from God.

We don't know exactly why he came to Jesus at night. Maybe he didn't want anyone to know he was visiting Jesus, especially his fellow Pharisees. Maybe what was on his heart was too urgent to wait till morning. Or maybe he just wanted a private audience with Jesus, which he got.

In any case, we can see he was seeking something from Jesus and at the same time trying to hide. Although he came alone, he said, "We know you're a teacher who has come from God," not speaking personally but as a representative of the Pharisees. And he called Jesus "Rabbi" which means teacher. He was eager to hear teachings from God. He presented himself as a good student. And maybe he was expecting some recognition from Jesus at this point for his life's devotion as a Pharisee.

Next, lets look at Jesus' response. Look at John 3:3

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "

Jesus did not ask him what he wanted. In the previous chapter, it says that Jesus did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. He knew already what was inside Nicodemus. And he cut straight to the point. Jesus reply tells us that Nicodemus came because he wanted to see the kingdom of God. But Jesus told him that no one, including Nicodemus, can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

This was quite a challenging response. What does it mean to be born again? What then did that mean for Nicodemus who spent his whole life to refine himself, to be disciplined and obedient, to be so studious to the law? Nicodemus seemed like the most qualified person to see the kingdom of God. But the qualification to see the kingdom of God was not what Nicodemus possessed or accomplished up to this point. Surely, he had worked hard up to that point to see the kingdom of God. And surely this is why he came to Jesus. 

Look at Nicodemus' response. John 3:4 (NIV)

"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!"

His answer tells us that he was old. He really worked hard and for a long time. But still he fell short of seeing the kingdom of God. And the reason for falling short of seeing it wasn't even because he needed to work at it more, it was about his fundamental condition. He had to be born again.

And yet he asked a good question. How can a person be born again? It can’t mean actually being born from our mothers again, so what does it mean to be born again, or how can a person be born again, even if he is already so old? Another way to look at this question is, How can I see the kingdom of God? At least we know so far that even if one attained the highest level of refinement, discipline, and legalistic righteousness like Nicodemus, still one would fall short of seeing the kingdom of God. 

So we have to question ourselves. What are you relying on to see God's kingdom? Is it your good things? Is it your long time of studying the Bible or growing up in a Christian family or church experience or church activities?

In verses 5-6, Jesus answered his question and explained what it means to be born again. Look at John 3:5-6.

[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.

To be born again means to be born of the Spirit. It means that God’s Spirit gives birth to your spirit. To be born again, does not mean you suddenly do good things, or you stopped doing bad things, or even that you had some kind of intellectual or emotional experience and you want to renew your life. Being born again is an actual birth from the Spirit. “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” 

This reminds us of what John said in chapter 1. Look at John 1:12-13.

[12] Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Being born again is an actual birth from God, as a child of God. And these two passages tell us who the Spirit gives life to: those who receive him and believe in his name. This explains Jesus saying that one must be born of “water and the Spirit.” Nicodemus knew that when Jesus said “water” he was referring to John the Baptist’s ministry. We’ve seen already about John. He preached repentance and faith in the one who would come after him, that is, Jesus Christ. So we see that the Spirit does not give life randomly or to people who look good outwardly, like Nicodemus. He gives life to those who repent and believe in Jesus. God accepts the repentance and faith of sinners, and gives them life by his Holy Spirit. This is his mercy and sovereignty. 

Therefore, the kingdom of God is a spiritual place, for God is spirit. When we have life by his Spirit, we can see and enter his kingdom. We can see God’s glory and have life with him. Today’s passage says one can have eternal life! 

Look at John 3:7-8. 

[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.”

Being born again is the work of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus said, “You must be born again,” at the end of verse 7, the word “You” is plural in Greek. It means, “You [all] must be born again.” Remember, Nicodemus came and said “we” know this and “we know that” about you, Jesus. But the message of the Spirit’s work to give new life is for Nicodemus, and all the other Pharisees and members of the Jewish ruling council, and for all people. 

This message was already surprising to Nicodemus. But this last part even more so. Look at his next question to Jesus in verse 9.

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

The first time he asked “How” it was more about the mechanics of being born again. This “how” suggests that he couldn’t see that this was indeed the reality. It was his pride. He relied on himself all his life. In fact, it was his honor and boasting before others. Now was his devotion to law and zeal a waste? Was Nicodemus's life wasted in learning obedience to the law? No! Not at all! he could receive so many benefits because God's law teaches about God's holiness and how to live a godly life. But it couldn't make him new. It could not solve his problem of powerlessness to sin and himself. According to Jesus, Nicodemus could understand what he was talking about because of his background in the law. And he was able to use a story from the Old Testament as an illustration. Jesus couldn’t speak like this to the Samaritan woman. He just talked about water and Jacob’s well and being thirsty. But with Nicodemus he could talk about the Scriptures like this. He had such a wealth of resources. 

Look at John 3:10-13. 

[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.

Nicodemus was surprised earlier. But Jesus is surprised here that he doesn’t understand. Here Jesus clearly mentions that Nicodemus’s problem was not a matter of lacking understanding, but accepting the word of truth. 

Look at John 14-15.

[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.

Jesus gave Nicodemus an example from the Old Testament. The event with the bronze snake took place while the Israelites were traveling from Egypt after the Exodus to Canaan. Again, they rebelled and spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” Then God sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many died. Then the people came to Moses and confessed their sin in repentance. They asked that God would take the snakes away. God accepted their confession and repentance, and then he told Moses to make a snake and put it on a pole; anyone who was bitten could look at it and live.

This example demonstrates God’s acceptance of people’s repentance and faith, and then him healing by his power. What Jesus had been saying to Nicodemus was not a new thing. Now, instead of a snake, the Son of Man was lifted up that whoever believes in him may eternal life. This is talking about Jesus’ crucifixion. He was lifted up on the cross, taking up all our guilt and sin to give eternal life to sinners. 

Health insurance companies use these symbols today to represent healing and life, such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

This is what Nicodemus did not want to accept. God healed those people even though they were sinners and rebelled against God and Moses. Maybe Nicodemus sympathized with Moses and wondered why God accepted their repentance and heal them? Why did God heal those sinners? And now why was he doing the same now through Jesus for all people? 

Look at John 3:16.

“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.”

It is his love for the world. God didn’t love just Moses, or people who sought righteousness like Nicodemus and the Pharisees. He loves the world. He loved the wayward fisherman, the greedy tax collector, and woman tortured by demon possession. And he gave Jesus to welcome and give life to whoever believes in him. Nicodemus and the Pharisees were just concerned about their own party. But God was concerned about all people. Nicodemus had to open his eyes and his heart to God’s love for the world, then he could understand why God accepts repentance and gives life to those who believe in Jesus by the Spirit. 

The word “so” here does not refer to a measure, meaning, “God sooooo loved the world.” But it refers to the way in which God loved the world, meaning, “God loved the world in this way: he gave his One and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Giving Jesus who would die on a cross is the way in which God loved the world. 

Some people are always unstable because they are not clear about God’s love. They don’t know how God has loved them. They look for good things in this world, such as good health, good finances, and good relations with others—the trouble free life. But this is how God loved the world. He gave his One and Only Son. And so we can see how to practice godly love: by giving and sacrificing our lives, by not withholding anything. We don’t need to look anywhere else, but to the cross to know and see God’s love for the world.

And now is the time to also open our eyes and hearts to God’s love for the world! 

Who knows the world current world population? (answer = 6.8 billion)

How about for California? (answer = ~37 million)

How about the US? (answer = ~310 million) = this is a lot of people to love!

To accept God's love for me is to also accept God's love for the world, including those in other countries, and including those sitting right next to us. He even loved those who were not Pharisees like Nicodemus. And so we should love others, including our neighbor sitting next to us. Why? Because they did something good for us? No, it is because Jesus died for them. That is the only reason. I have to love my neighbor because Jesus died for them to give them eternal life. And how am I supposed to love them? By his own example of love! We can love because he loved us first. The way in which we can show our love is by practicing God’s love which gives without withholding anything. Nicodemus needed to learn to accept and practice God’s love.

Look at John 3:17

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Here’s how the Pharisees, like Nicodemus, stumbled over Jesus. They thought he came to condemn the world, and to praise them for their righteousness and then establish God’s kingdom. This is why they were so confused as to why Jesus spent time with “sinners” and tax collectors. How many times did they ask this question directly to Jesus’ disciples? So the more time he spent with sinners and not praising them they got angry and jealous. When he challenged them to repent they plotted to kill him. They felt so sorry they didn’t get praise from Jesus. But God sent his Son to save the world. 

Look at John 3:18

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.

The story of the bronze snake in the desert represents the condition of the whole human race. We’re already sick and dying because of our sin. But in love God sent his Son Jesus to take the place of our punishment to heal and give life to all who look to him and believe in his name. 

Look at John 19-21.

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.”

Jesus says truthfully that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Some times we don’t find repentance to be practical. As the passage says, those who avoid repentance do not want to come into the light because they want to keep doing their evil deeds. “This is the verdict, light has come into the world…” This means that now is the time to repent of all our evil deeds, in view of his coming which is God’s demonstration of love. He sent Jesus first, not because we earned it, but because he loved the world and we need healing and life. Now is the time to repent of worshiping money and pleasures, of being sexually immoral and of all the idols we worship.

The apostle John wrote to one of the early churches:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Now we can accept his love and know the value of being born again: There is a greater treasure for those who are born again than any earthly treasure or pleasure we try to hold on to. Consider what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-5:

[3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Nicodemus worked so hard, but he fell short of the kingdom of God. From this meeting with Jesus, he had the chance to accept God’s love for the world, repent, and believe in Jesus and be born again, and then love the world giving his life as well. The passage doesn’t say what happened to him. But he shows up a couple more times in John’s gospel (7:50 and 19:39), especially after seeing Jesus’ words fulfilled and dying on a cross. 

His story spoke to me personally about the need to have the love of God in my heart and have a spiritual life. So often I find myself just caught up in doing work all the time. I complained often that Sunday was not a day of rest, like a Sabbath, but even busier than my work week M-F. And I recognized my own sense of comfort in doing a lot of work, and yet lacking in love in my heart and thirsty for a spiritual life. It is good to work hard and be disciplined, but has to be based on God’s love. Through accepting God’s love for the world and putting it into practice as Jesus did, and by daily repentance, I can have a meaningful spiritual life. And I learn about God’s love that sacrifices for others. I pray to follow his example and meaningfully serve his world redemptive purpose in this year through humble sacrifice.

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