The Gospel of John #10

By Robert Guenther

We are continuing to review of the Gospel of John chapter three beginning with verse 13. The overall purpose of this book is to help the reader believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and by accepting this truth, may have life in His name.

Jesus is still speaking to Nicodemus and stating some truths that he should have had a basic knowledge of Verse 13 is stating that no man has ascended to heaven: "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven." I find it a little strange that even today at funerals we hear that the deceased is now in heaven.

Verse 14: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." We read in the Old Testament that if one was bitten by a serpent he could look to the serpent on Moses staff and be healed. Similarly if we look to our Savior of the world we can have preservation and life even in the present.

Verse 15: "That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." The contrast is between death versus eternal life. We make this choice.

Verse 16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I would like for each of us to consider the fact that the world is in view, not just Israel.

Verse 17: "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." Death was the condemnation, which has been passed down to mankind through the choice that Adam made when he chose to disobey God. Now God is giving us the opportunity to choose life through His Son.

Verse 18: "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." There is no mystery or secret purpose here, but plain truth is revealed to each of us.

Verse 19: "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." This light is in all of us, but can be rejected.

Verse 20: "For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." We have the reason why men reject the light and it is because of their deeds.

Verse 21: "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." Nicodemus needed light to help him to know and understand that Christ is the Light of the world. We still need this knowledge. Will you believe the truth?