We have found him

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We have found him! The light of the world the
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
the world! Come and see!
the Gospel of John
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218-22 - Then the Jews demanded of him, "What
miraculous sign can you show us to prove your
authority to do all this?" Jesus answered them,
"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again
in three days." The Jews replied, "It has taken
forty-six years to build this temple, and you are
going to raise it in three days?" But the temple
he had spoken of was his body. After he was
raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what
he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and
the words that Jesus had spoken.
Show us your credentials! Give us proof of
your authority!
Challenged them with a confusing, maddening
statementno attempt to explain it to them.
He was predicting His resurrection, as in Rom.
13 -4 - regarding his Son, who as to his human
nature was a descendant of David, and who through
the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to
be the Son of God by his resurrection from the
dead Jesus Christ our Lord.
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218-22 - Then the Jews demanded of him, "What
miraculous sign can you show us to prove your
authority to do all this?" Jesus answered them,
"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again
in three days." The Jews replied, "It has taken
forty-six years to build this temple, and you are
going to raise it in three days?" But the temple
he had spoken of was his body. After he was
raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what
he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and
the words that Jesus had spoken.
Disciples didnt understand until after the fact
Although the disciples didnt understand it,
some of the Jewish leaders did Mt. 2762-64
the chief priests and the Pharisees went to
Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while
he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After
three days I will rise again.' So give the order
for the tomb to be made secure until the third
day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal
the body and tell the people that he has been
raised from the dead. This last deception will be
worse than the first."
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223-25 - Now when He was in Jerusalem at the
Passover, during the feast, many believed in His
name, observing His signs which He was doing.
But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting
Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because
He did not need anyone to testify concerning man,
for He Himself knew what was in man.
Many believed He could do signs but did not
understand what those fully signs signified about
Him. Their faith was superficial immature.
He stayed aloof from their miscon-ceptions of His
kingship from their designs for Him. Although
the people did not understand Jesus, he
completely understood them, the human psyche, and
the shallow nature of their belief.
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1. Jesus performed His 1st miracle. 2. He
asserted His authority in cleansing the
temple. 3. He predicted His resurrection
the final, complete manifestation of His
divine nature. 4. Some responded with faith, but
at that early point it was shallow and
superficial.
Lets summarize what we saw in chapter 2.
Vv. 24-25 says that Jesus thoroughly knows the
human mind. To further demonstrate that, in
chps 3-4, we read 3 interviews which show how He
dealt with 3 different personalities, trying to
lead them to faith.
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v. 4 It was a serious question. Nicodemus was
thinking as a Jew, based on the Law of Moses.
With that in mind, explain why he asked it.
As a Jewish Law expert, familiar with Lev.81-9
Num.85-7 197-8,19 how would Nicodemus
interpret born of water?
Born of the Spirit study Titus 31-7
Gal.519-24 Rom.87-11 and see if you can
explain what this expression might mean.
Your explanation of what it means to be born of
both water and spirit is . . .
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38 - 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.
39-12 - "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do
you not understand these things? 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. I have spoken to you of
earthly things and you do not believe how then
will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
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Why did this ruler of the Jews come at night? To
investigate w/o being seen? To escape criticism?
To get 1st-hand informa-tion before taking a
public stand? At the least it shows him to be
honestly looking for answers understanding
about Jesus perhaps even hints at a step toward
faith.
31-3 - Now there was a man of the Pharisees
named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling
council. 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."
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth,
no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is
born again."
31-3 - Now there was a man of the Pharisees
named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling
council. 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."
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth,
no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is
born again."
Some conversation omitted? Maybe illustrates
the truth of 225he knew what was in
man. Perhaps He knew Nicodemus was looking for
the kingdom of God answered the question before
Nicodemus asked it. Without a complete change,
comparable to being reborn, the natural man
cannot enter the spiritual kingdom it requires
a moral transformation, a spiritual rebirth.
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Probably understood what Jesus was requiring
Nicodemus had to look at this in relation to the
Law He already was a child of God by his
Jewish birth. His question was an honest
reaction to how ridiculous Jesus statement
sounded, because he understood the physical birth
but nothing of the spiritual one. If he did
understand the spiritual implication, it was
hard to see how an old man could make such a
complete change old not only in years but long
settled in his way of thinking acting, social
ties, traditions, deeply imbedded religious
practices prejudices. A transformation from
all that would seem almost as impossible as
entering a 2nd time into the womb.
34 - "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!"
Jer 1323 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or
the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good
who are accustomed to doing evil.
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Note that Jesus was not speaking to Nicodemus in
a Pentecostal context He was speaking as a
Jew to a Jew in a Jewish context.
Rebirth--an outward inward cleansing a
transformation from an old covenant to a new
covenant from a covenant written on stone to one
written on the heart (Heb. 1016) "This is
the covenant I will make with them after that
time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their
hearts, and I will write them on their minds."
35-6 - Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Born of water Points to the ceremonial
washings of the Jews ceremonies by which
accomplished a change of state or right before
God e.g. one who had performed the required
washings was unfit to present his
offering the priest had to wash frequently or be
unfit to carry the blood of the covenant
into the holy place many washing
traditions were required Mk 73-4 - (The
Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless
they give their hands a ceremonial washing,
holding to the tradition of the elders. When
they come from the marketplace they do not eat
unless they wash. And they observe many other
traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers
and kettles.)
Point to Nicodemus There is a physical washing
required to enter the kingdom of God, which
brings about a change of state before God. Jesus
later will explain that all must be baptized, or
washed, for forgiveness of sins
called the washing of regeneration, Titus 35
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up
for her, so that He might sanctify her,
having cleansed her by the washing of water
with the word - Eph 525-26
Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away,
calling on his name. Acts 2216
We were therefore buried with him through bap-
tism into death in order that, just as Christ
was raised from the dead through the glory
of the Father, we too may live a new life. -
Rom 64
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Note that Jesus was not speaking to Nicodemus in
a Pentecostal context He was speaking as a
Jew to a Jew in a Jewish context.
35-6 - Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (could as
easily be spirit every time here in v. 8
something besides the word itself must determine
if it is our spirit or Gods Spirit)
Born of the spirit pneuma hagion Holy Spirit
pneuma spirit (Gk makes no distinction
between spirit or Spirit) 1. a movement of
air (gentle) blast 2. the spirit, i. e., the
vital principle by which the body is animatedthe
spirit is that which animates and gives life, the
body is of no profit (for the spirit imparts life
to it, not the body to the spirit This is the
inward cleansingof the heart. It must be
changed, reborn, as man turns from sin to God,
changing his way of thinking acting his ideas
attitudes to conform to the way of
Christ. This is the birth or cleansing of the
spirit, as we submit our spirit to God in our
transformation from being sinful to sanctified
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Note that Jesus was not speaking to Nicodemus in
a Pentecostal context He was speaking as a
Jew to a Jew in a Jewish context.
35-6 - Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Even if you could be reborn physically, it
wouldnt do any good because you still would be
just fleshly. To enter the kingdom of God, you
must be reborn internallyin spirit. 1 Cor 1550
- Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God nor does the
perishable inherit the imperishable The Point
as man died body sould, he must be reborn, or
cleansed, in both body and soul
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37-8 - Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You
must be born again.' "The wind blows where it
wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not
know where it comes from and where it is going
so is every-one who is born of the Spirit. (or
spirit -RC)
Jesus is saying Dont reject it just because
tou doesnt understand many earthly things are
equally difficult to understand but you accept
them e.g., the windcant see it, its origin or
destination, but you see its effects as it moves
clouds, trees, etc. Its the same with the
spirit (Spirit)--cant see it but your can see
its effect evil men become righteous,
rebellious become meek, haughty become humble,
greedy become generous, etc.
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Nicodemus still amazed A Gentile might need a
new birth, but Ia son of Abraham, a Rabbi, and a
zealous keeper of the Lawcould I need a new
birth?! How can that be true?
39-15 - "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do
you not understand these things? 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 testi-mony. I have spoken to you of
earthly things and you do not believe how then
will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven-the Son of Man. Just as
Moses lifted up the snake in the des-ert, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who
believes in him may have eternal life.
39-15 - "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do
you not understand these things? 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 testi-mony. I have spoken to you of
earthly things and you do not believe how then
will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven-the Son of Man. Just as
Moses lifted up the snake in the des-ert, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who
believes in him may have eternal life.
You teach Israel but dont understand this basic
truth? If you cant comprehend these matters
illustrated by earthly experience, how can you
understand Truth which has no earthly comparison
or illustration?
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We (Jesus John the baptist) know have seen
these things know they are true, but you wont
accept them, even though you admit that they are
of God (v. 2).
39-15 - "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do
you not understand these things? 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 testi-mony. I have spoken to you of
earthly things and you do not believe how then
will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven-the Son of Man. Just as
Moses lifted up the snake in the des-ert, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who
believes in him may have eternal life.
39-15 - "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do
you not understand these things? 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 testi-mony. I have spoken to you of
earthly things and you do not believe how then
will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven-the Son of Man. Just as
Moses lifted up the snake in the des-ert, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who
believes in him may have eternal life.
Only I am qualified to tell you heavenly things
because no man has been there I didnt go up
there, I came from there. I descended to the
earth ro reveal God to a world that needs to be
reborn.
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Speaking of heavenly things, He compares the
fiery serpent incident (Num. 21) to His work of
imparting eternal life to man.
39-15 - "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do
you not understand these things? 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 testi-mony. I have spoken to you of
earthly things and you do not believe how then
will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven-the Son of Man. Just as
Moses lifted up the snake in the des-ert, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who
believes in him may have eternal life.
fiery serpents represents the evil of
disobedience which poisons kills man
brass serpent looked like the poisonous ones
but was the object by which the people were
saved Jesus, a man but not dead in sin, when
lifted up on the cross became the means of
salvation. When dying men look upon Jesus, he
can be healed receive eternal life.
Rom 83-4 - For what the Law could not do, weak
as it was through the flesh, God did send-ing
His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and
as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the
flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might
be fulfilled in us, who do not walk accord-ing to
the flesh but according to the Spirit.
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John 316-36 "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. 17
For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through
him. 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. 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. 22 After
this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the
Judean countryside, where he spent some time with
them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was
baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was
plenty of water, and people were constantly
coming to be baptized. 24(This was before John
was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed
between some of John's disciples and a certain
Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26
They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that
man who was with you on the other side of the
Jordan-the one you testified about-well, he is
baptizing, and everyone is going to him." 27 To
this John replied, "A man can receive only what
is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can
testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am
sent ahead of him.' 29 The bride belongs to the
bridegroom. The friend who attends the
bride-groom waits and listens for him, and is
full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.
That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He
must become greater I must become less. 31
"The one who comes from above is above all the
one who is from the earth belongs to the earth,
and speaks as one from the earth. The one who
comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies
to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts
his testimo-ny. 33 The man who has accepted it
has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the
one whom God has sent speaks the words of God,
for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The
Father loves the Son and has placed everything in
his hands. 36 Who-ever believes in the Son has
eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will
not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
Vv. 16-18 anyone now can be saved from sins
because
One says hes right with God but wont accept
Jesus? This text implies
Vv. 19-21 many cant stand the Truth! Heres
why
John the baptist identifies Jesus as v.
16_________________ v. 17________________
_ v. 18_________________ v.
19_________________ v. 29_________________
v. 31_________________ v. 34_________________
v. 35_________________
And those who do not accept Him v.
18_________________ v. 19________________
_ v. 20_________________ v.
36_________________
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God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall
not perish, but have eternal life. 316
I have come that they may have life, and have it
abundantly. 1010