The third chapter of the Gospel according to Saint John opens with the story of Nicodemus, a Pharisee and Sanhedrin. I see a man who recognises that Jesus is not a regular man – he addresses Him as Rabbi (teacher) and declares his belief that He is sent from God. Despite
this knowledge and seeming belief he still didn’t want to publicly associate with Jesus. He would rather wait to seek Him in the cover of night.
I imagine that, as a Jewish ruler, he did this because he wanted to protect his reputation or standing. It could also be that he didn’t want anybody to discourage him from seeking Jesus.
Whatever the reason, it makes me search my heart to find out if I am a “Nicodemus” too. Have there been times when I too have kept my relationship or need for Jesus a secret? Why? Is it because I do not want others to know what I am about? Or, I do not want the burden of expectations from others? Perhaps to spare my Lord the “shame” in case I did something wrong? Could it be that I didn’t trust God enough with something and simply felt it would be better if nobody expected Him to solve the problem or to rescue me? It is easy to judge Nicodemus until one puts himself/herself in his shoes.
Do we modern Christians carry and show Christ in the same manner that the Christians in Antioch did to become labeled by that name? (Acts 11:26).
Thankfully, beyond the questions, I find great comfort in the responses Jesus gave to him from verses 3 to 21.
I received a renewed assurance of my status as a born again from verses 3 to 8. I am born from above, now transformed spiritually, a new person, made holy, no longer perishable, able to see and experience God’s kingdom eternally and even in this world. Just like the wind I am not easy to fathom! I thank Nicodemus for asking.
I got another revelation in verse 10 where Jesus asks how such a great teacher as Nicodemus did not know these basic things. It tells me that it is indeed the Spirit that reveals things to us. No matter how intelligent we are or how much we study the Word, unless the Spirit of God opens our eyes we will not understand the mind or will of God as stated in the word. This is quite sobering, leading me to more dependence on God (ideally, total surrender!)
Verse 17 just reminds me what the grace of God means. If Jesus did not come to judge us (as deserving as that would be) then I am challenged to quit judging or condemning others but to bring them to Jesus for salvation. I think that this point is a subtle nugget in this chapter of the bible.
From verses 18 to 21 I see the fates of the believer and unbeliever clearly spelt out. The believer is safe while the unbeliever stands no chance in eternity.
Again, I see how the seemingly simple act of believing in Jesus delivers me from judgment, removing the risk of ever being condemned or rejected. Such reassurance! I am also reminded that everything I do right is only by God’s enabling.
As the chapter progresses we are brought to John the Baptist as he, again, testifies about Jesus. His statements are also drawn out by questions from his disciples. They (John’s disciples) had gotten into an argument with an unnamed Jew about baptism (purification or ceremonial washing, in some versions). This led them to asking John if he can see Jesus, who had come to Judea, now baptizing people and indeed taking more of the crowds.
Once more, I stop to ask myself some more questions. Do I mind my business, focusing on doing what the Lord has asked me to do or do I get concerned about what others are doing alongside? Did it matter who baptized more people at that time? Does it matter today who works “harder” in the vineyard? Are my fruits or results ever judged in comparison with those of others? Is there any wisdom in looking at what other co laborers are doing, let alone talking about it?
I get some answers from John the Baptist’s response to them in verse 27. Everything a person receives is from God. None of us can claim anything at all because God is the only source. Knowing this is the case helps me know that I am only equipped for my own God given role. It relieves me of the burden of thinking I have to do things like any other person. I also am convinced that God is not going to judge my works in comparison to that of any other. This is in contrast with the way of the world where it is almost always a competition/comparison. No matter how much you are doing if you are being outdone by others then you may not get the recognition or reward. I thank God for His ways are different from ours.
In verse 28 John reminds them that he had earlier said that he is not the expected Messiah. He is only his fore runner sent to tell others about the coming of Christ. I see John “maintaining his lane” and doing the work that God has assigned him. Perhaps, he may have reprimanded his disciples at this point, we are not told.
What we are told, however, is that he considers it a pleasure and is joyous at the arrival of Jesus with the subsequent works He is doing. (Verse 29).
Verse 30 is a popular verse of scripture, at least among Nigerian Christians. It says “it is necessary for Him to increase and for me to decrease.” Like John though, do I rejoice at this need to decrease as Jesus increases? Am I glad to withdraw to the background so only Jesus can be seen? Do I genuinely and wholeheartedly ascribe the glory for my accomplishments to God? Or do I consider my hard work, skills, intelligence, wisdom, connections, etc as responsible for my successes? This is another verse that is easy to skim over but holds the potential to help us change.
Verses 31 to 33 helps me see that Jesus is higher than everyone else. He comes from Heaven and is an actual witness of the things He proclaims. So, Jesus is not just saying these things, He is indeed a first hand witness of them! How reassuring to know that I can absolutely trust every single word of Jesus.
In verse 34 there is more good news for the believer – God gives the gift of the Spirit generously and without any bounds in the measurement. That is to say, there is no limit to how much of the Spirit I, or any other believer can have. It must mean that any failure to fully express the Spirit is from us, definitely not from God.
The chapter closes in verses 35 and 36 by telling us that God has given everything to Jesus. As soon as we trust and believe in Him we too instantly receive life eternally. It is not a promise for the future, it is already ours from the moment we believe.
Well, the opposite is the case for the unbeliever – rejecting Jesus means losing out on eternal life and worse, living under God’s wrath.
This chapter left me challenged to take sharing the gospel more seriously. It is expedient that more people come to salvation. Eternal life is available to all, the only requirement is to believe in and accept Jesus as Lord.
As we step into chapter four we find that Jesus had to leave Judea and return to Galilee. This was necessitated by the rumors that He was baptizing more people than John filtering to the Pharisees. We are given more insight here though – He is not doing the baptizing himself, His disciples are. This means, false witnessing and wrongful accusations are not alien to Jesus. If we suffer such today, He can relate and empathize with us. What comfort!
John, the writer, chooses to explain why Jesus had to pass through Samaria. I am not sure why but I believe there is a relevance. Perhaps so we can see how the seemingly unexpected change in location led Him to the next subject we will see. Whatever the case I do know that there are no coincidences with God.
In verse 6 we are told that Jesus was tired. Jesus, who is God the Son, clearly felt human feelings when He walked the earth in human form. It is a reassurance to me that there is nothing wrong if and when I experience human frailty or sentiments. This is as long as I do not take them as chances to indulge in wrongdoing.
In verses 7 to 9 we see Jesus begin to interact with a woman at the well in Samaria. This woman is a Samaritan and as such shouldn’t have any interactions with a Jew. It is interesting to note that Jesus ignores this fact, even after she points it out. I am led to understand that our earthly rules and segregations cannot hinder the work of God. As a Christian, a person’s race, gender, age, ethnicity, occupation, location or other such parameters should not cause me to withdraw from sharing the good news of Jesus with them. Neither should it affect how I receive the Word of God from them.
In verse 10 He subtly introduces Himself to the Samaritan woman as the source of eternal life (living water). She didn’t know what privilege she had, the Messiah was talking to her directly!
Her responses in verses 11 and 12 show that she was unable to recognise this man nor comprehend the depth of what He said to her. I ask myself if this isn’t how we all are until we receive the Light. Again, more reason to be gracious and patient with the lost and unbelieving people we encounter. Christ is only recognisable to those to whom He has been revealed.
In verses 12 and 14 Jesus goes on to tell her more about His spiritual water and contrasts it with the physical water he had asked her for. I understand here that the “water” that we receive from Jesus becomes in us an endless flowing of the Holy Spirit that gives us eternal life. Who would not want this gift?
We see that this Samaritan woman clearly wants this water though she still does not understand it. She actually assumes it is a physical water that can save her from needing to fetch water from the well. Imagine how little she thought of the gift of God simply because she lacked understanding.
Aren’t we often this way? Even after we have received Jesus and the Holy spirit. When we do not trust God to provide our every need is that not because we fail to understand His magnanimity? When we give up in the face of certain challenges is it not proof that we do not comprehend just how powerful our God is? We have the privilege of living water (all quenching, eternal, spiritual provision of life) but sometimes only think it is to quench our physical thirst (mundane, physical, temporal needs). Oh, what needless smallness we operate in!
Verses 16, 17 and 18 describe some banter between Jesus and this woman by the well. He asks her to go bring her husband even though He knows she has none. Could it be that He was testing her? Or, he wanted to create a chance for her to see her need. Whatever the case, He is clearly not judgmental, just states the facts.
This curious woman of Samaria quickly takes the opportunity to ask for an answer to a confusion she has. We see this in verses 19 and 20. She is interested in finding out the right place to worship God. I feel like she does have a heart for God, she only doesn’t understand Him. How many of these “Samaritan woman” types do we encounter but miss because they are not like us? Like Jesus, are we gracious enough to engage with them until they understand?
From verses 21 to 24 Jesus teaches her and us about the true worship of God. The worship of God is not about a physical location. It is about the state and posture of our hearts. Jesus tells us that God is a Spirit whose requirement is spiritual worship in truth. This is such a vital point to note as it is the bedrock of our worship of and service to God. God is not interested
in our outward motions as He is interested in our genuineness of motive and sincerity of heart.
In verse 25 we see more of the belief and expectation of this woman. She wants to know more, she believes that the Messiah is coming to teach her. Jesus simply reveals Himself to her in verse 26.
An interesting thing happens in verse 28. This unnamed woman who is not a Jew and therefore not ordinarily qualified to be a bearer of the Gospel immediately leaves her initial mission (of fetching water) to begin to spread the good news of Jesus! I believe that this is the right response to receiving the light of God’s word – spread it for all to hear and come.
In verse 34 Jesus uses the metaphor of food to speak to His disciples about His mission on earth. They are concerned about His physical need for food but, as usual, Jesus is speaking
of the spiritual. I understand this to mean that doing the will of God is more important than even the food we eat. The gospel must be spread, there is no time to waste.
In verses 35 to 38 Jesus goes on to send them ( and us) out into the fields for souls. This is a perfect conclusion for me in this passage I have reviewed.