God's Word for Me Today
Sunday, September 9, 2001
Focus: Our Mission: Sharing the New Life of Jesus Christ
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Gracious God, I seek the new life that only Jesus can give! Open my heart, mind and life by your Holy Spirit that I may understand Your Word for me today and have the power to live it out in practical ways. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: John 3:1-21
1After dark one evening, a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus, a Pharisee, 2came to speak with Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you.”
3Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.”
4“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
5Jesus replied, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. 7So don’t be surprised at my statement that you£ must be born again. 8Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
9“What do you mean?” Nicodemus asked.
10Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11I assure you, I am telling you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe us. 12But if you don’t even believe me when I tell you about things that happen here on earth, how can you possibly believe if I tell you what is going on in heaven? 13For only I, the Son of Man, have come to earth and will return to heaven again. 14And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, 15so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
18“There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. 19Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. 21But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.”
Questions for Reflection
Have you ever felt like you wanted to start life all over again? When?
Why do we like getting new things (such as clothes, cars, etc.)?
Questions for Exploration
What time of day did Nicodemus visit Jesus? Why do you suppose he came then? (3:2)
What made Nicodemus believe Jesus was from God? (3:2)
What is the qualification for seeing the Kingdom of God? (3:3) KEY VERSE!
How did Nicodemus understand Jesus’ statement that a person must be born again? (3:4)
What did Jesus really mean? (3:5-6)
What is the result of believing in Jesus? (3:15,18)
How did God demonstrate His love for the world? (3:16)
Why did God send His Son into the world? (3:17)
Questions for Understanding
When would you say you were born again or are you born again?
How would you describe to someone else what it means to be born again?
What were some of the circumstances that led you to Jesus?
What are some of the things that cause you to believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Nicodemus had trouble understanding some of Jesus’ teachings, even though he was a religious leader. Why do you think this was so?
What are some of Jesus’ teachings that you struggle to understand?
How does God's gift of His Son affect your life?
Questions for Application
How will you change your daily routine to better appreciate and enjoy God's gift of His Son?
For what specific teaching of Jesus will you seek answers this week?
What one action will you take today to live in the "light" that God provides?
Think about the New Life!
Nicodemus did not respond immediately to Jesus’ teaching that in order to see the Kingdom of God a person must be born again. In fact, we don’t hear anything about Nicodemus again until Jesus’ trial. Nicodemus stands up for Jesus at that time, although he still makes no outward statement that he believes Jesus is the Son of God. Nicodemus also helped Joseph of Arimathea to bury Jesus after his crucifixion. Such an act showed great respect for Jesus, but not necessarily a commitment on Nicodemus’ part as a disciple or follower. Each day offers us new opportunities to share the new life of Jesus with others—but first, we must claim that new life for ourselves. We must be born again! That’s as simple as saying, “Yes,” to Jesus’ offer of new life, and making Him our Savior and Lord. For those who are reading who have not yet taken that step—NOW is the time to receive the new life Jesus offers.* For those of us who have been born again today is a great day to share that new life with someone else through our actions and our words. May God grant us the joy of His new life 24/7!
*To find out more about making Jesus your Savior and Lord, contact New Life at info@newlifexn.org.
To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.