Feb. 6, 2008 - JOHN CHAPTER 3
John chapter 3 is so good. It made me reflect on my own humanity. I was thinking, "What if I was alive around the time Jesus came on the scene. Just think of it. He's a man that claims to be the Son of God, and John the Baptist (a strange character of sorts in his own right) says he is the Messiah! What would I think? What would you think?
Maybe I'd be likeNicodemus and steal away in the night to meet with him privily and talk to him to find out from him who he is. Or maybe I'd be like John's disciples and want to know why he's baptizing people when that's what they do. Or maybe I would have been like the other religious and governmental leaders (prideful and afraid). Or maybe Iwoul have been like the other mockers. Or maybe I'd become a convert. The truth is...I don't know!
What I do know is that John chapter 3 explains Jesus' purpose well. God sent Jesus to us to be our way to eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus said in John 3:3, "Unless you are born again (of the Holy Spirit), you cannot see the Kingdom of God."
What was so refreshing about this chapter was this: that God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save it through him (John 3:17). And where I get my hope is John 3:36, " And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgement." (memory verse)
What will I take with me? Well, I will take away a taste of true humility as witnessed in John the Baptists' talk with his disciples. He explains to them that his role is merely that of the best man who is glad to stand up with the bridegroom while he marries the bride and is full of joy as he witnesses the union. He then says, "Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success." That stuck with me, because sometimes the body can compete with each other over and covet the gifts of each other causing contention within the body. John lives a wonderful example of working toward the cause of Christ while being dead to our pride and desires.
I really liked chapter 3! Chapter 4 will be for next week.
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