John 1-3 Become A Child of God
Psalm 119:145-152 Calling for Help
Ps 119:145 KOPH “I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Yahweh! I will keep your statutes. 146 I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes.147 I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words. 148 My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word.149 Hear my voice according to your hesed/loyal covenantal love. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your ordinances.
150 They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law. 151 You are near, Yahweh. All your commandments are truth/faithful. 152 Of old I have known from your testimonies, that you have founded them forever."
Observations: 119:145-149 Our psalmist is in trouble again; the wicked are getting closer to destroying him, so he calls “911” for help, repeatedly, and wholeheartedly. He gives God a few reasons to respond: his obedience, meditation, and hope/trust in God's revealed promises. He reminds God of His hesed and ordinances in which he trusts.
119:150-152 While the enemies are getting near, God is nearer, and His promises to loyally protect those who trust him are forever.
Application: Knowing God's everlasting promises gives us a basis for hope when enemies are near. Knowing God is near gives us confidence to trust Him to save us.
Prayer: Eternal God, thanks that I can know You, and call upon You, and know that You will loyally act according to Your promises. Help! Amen.
Proverbs 29:7-9 Justice Avoids God's Anger
Observations: 29:7-8 Wise and righteous people are not only concerned about justice for those unable to obtain it on their own, they seek to rectify injustice so God's wrath will not consume the city. The wicked aren't concerned about justice and by their selfishness bring judgment upon themselves and their habitation.
29:9 In a court trying to establish justice, the fool isn't concerned about doing what is right and reaching a peaceful resolution, but rather just wants to vent.
Application: If we want God to be concerned about protecting us, we need to be concerned about protecting the rights of others.
Prayer: God, You are infinitely just and require justice among Your people. Guide me in doing Your will in blessing others, and protect me from the wicked fools. Amen.
John 1-3 John is the most unique Gospel, presenting over 90% unique material compared the synoptic gospels, because he's writing with a different purpose. The first half of the book, containing “Seven Signs” or miracles is the most “evangelistic” in the Bible, written to a universal audience (as opposed to Jewish, Roman, or Greek) so that they might believe and have life. The second half, is written to those who believe, so they may experience life abundantly. This is not only John's stated purpose (recorded at the end), but Jesus' purpose in coming to earth, stated in the prologue, and in the middle, where He also claims to be God).
John 10:10b I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 20:30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
The prologue introduces a number of the themes John will emphasize throughout the book, chief among them being the offer of life, and reactions of belief and acceptance, versus refusal to believe and rejection. There are numerous approaches to understanding the structure of the book, the simple one is above, which we'll use. Chiasm abounds, and some see a chiastic center in Chapter 8 about the woman taken in adultery; others see the center in Chapter 6 where Jesus walks on water. There's even an approach which pairs the chiasm with the days of creation. John also wrote the Book of Revelation (as well as three epistles), so you know he's capable of some pretty amazing writing.
A common theme in John is the importance of believing (mentioned >90 times; the noun faith isn't mentioned once). The miracles have both a physical sense and a spiritual lesson for those who believe. Jesus will frequently elaborate on the spiritual significance of something, but His audience will understand it only in a physical sense (ie, born again).
Seven witness give their testimony about Jesus 1:34; 1:49; 6:69; 10:36; 11:27; 20:28; 20:31.
John presents the seven great "I AM" statements/sayings: 6:35 (Bread of Life); 8:12 (Light of the World); 10:9 (Gate); 10:11 (Good Shepherd); 11:25 (Resurrection and Life); 14:6 (Way, Truth, Life); 15:1 (True Vine). In 8:58 Jesus refers to Himself as “I am,” the name by which Yahweh revealed Himself in the OT.
There is a prepackaged exposition of John 3:16 “How to Get to Heaven in Ten Minutes” in the Sidebar. For those of you who want to take your Bible Study skill to the next level, the last section of the “Introduction to the 7PASSAGES” in the sidebar teaches you how to study the Bible like Sherlock 'Olmes, using John 3:15-18 as an example.
John 1 The Word Becomes Flesh
[Note the Chiastic structure of the Prologue]
A (Word=God) 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
B (Word=Creator) 3 All things were made through Him. Without Him was not anything made that has been made.
C (Word gives Life/Light) 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness didn't overcome it.
D (John Witness) 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
E (Light Enters) 9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world didn't recognize Him.
F (Own Reject) 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own didn't receive Him.
G(Receive) 12 But as many as received Him,
H (God's Children) to them He gave
the right to become God's children,
the right to become God's children,
g'(Believe) to those who believe in His name:
f'(Own Born) 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God.
e'(Glory Seen) 14 The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. We saw His glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
d'(John Witness) 15 John testified about Him. He cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me, for He was before me.'"
c'(Son gives Grace) 16 From His fullness/abundance we all received grace upon grace.
b'(Son gives Truth) 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
a'(Son Exegetes) 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared Him.
19 This is John's testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He declared, and didn't deny, but he declared, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 They said therefore to him, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said." 24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" 26 John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, Whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen." 28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' 31 I didn't know Him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that He would be revealed to Israel." 32 John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on Him. 33 I didn't recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water, He said to me, 'On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."
35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), "where are You staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come, and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day. It was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah!" (which is, being interpreted, Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is by interpretation, Peter). 43 On the next day, He was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, "Follow Me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, 'I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these!" 51 He said to him, "Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Observations: 1:1-18 Books have been written about the prologue which contains the major themes of the book. We'll just scratch the surface. Note its chiastic structure above, emphasizing the center of 12, equating receiving with believing. Many of the points are chiastic within themselves (especially verses 1-2 above in Greek word order).
a In the beginning
b was
c the Word
d and the Word
e was
f with God
f' and God
e' was
d' the Word.
c ' This one
b' was
a' in the beginning with God.:
(Speaking of Greek, there are some who know just enough Greek to harm themselves, yet not enough to know the truth. Some erroneously think that because “the Word was God” lacks the definite article “the” before God, that the end of verse 1 should be translated “the word was a god”. In 1807 Granville Sharp proved that when two proper nouns refer to the same person only one has the article; this is done to emphasize that the two are the same. See this link for more than you want to know.)
1:1-13 John starts out parallel to Genesis 1 where in the beginning God creates with a word. “Word” (“logos”) is both a concept, and the expression of that concept. The Word is eternal, God, Creator (1Cor 8:6; Col 1:16); the source of light and life.
The Life and Light Giver (note the “quasi Granville Sharp contruction” {no second “the”} in English) is accepted by some and rejected by some. The verb at end of verse 5 is sometimes translated “comprehend”, but John (and Mark) use it to indicate a conflict (“overcome”). The amazing thing about light, is that the smallest quantity can overcome darkness, by dispelling it, but darkness can never overcome or extinguish light. John uses the present tense to indicate the light is now shining in the dark world (Luke 1:79)
To those who accept/believe Him, He gives the power (grace) to becomes children of God. Note that acceptance or belief (clearly equated by the chiastic structure in verse 12) precede reception of the power. The result of receiving God's power is that one is born of God. One is not a child of God by virtue of bloodline or ancestry (bloods is plural), nor of natural birth, nor of deciding as in exercising human will or effort (perhaps adoption is in view), but only by God's working, which is something received/accepted (by faith). It's a spiritual, not human dynamic.
1:14-18 Verse 14 is a most significant verse, referring to the Incarnation. The Eternal Word, God, took on human form/flesh (Phil 2) and dwelt (same word used of dwelling in a tabernacle) among us. Jesus is/was God in the flesh. John testifies he saw His glory (miracles, Mount of Transfiguration, Resurrection, Ascension, bestowal of the Holy Spirit). Seeing is believing in John. Blind faith, nor trusting hearsay is not called for. Like people received the law through Moses, grace and truth come through Christ (this does not mean that grace and truth don't exist in the OT but as we'll see in the first miracle, in chapter 2, the abundance of grace is in view here). Grace upon grace, emphasizes the abundance. The last verse of the prologue ties back to the 1:1, the invisible God is made visible in the form of Jesus. Isaiah and Moses saw the image and glory of God, and Israel could see the cloud and pillar of fire, but the essence of God, His love and purpose, are only expressed in Christ. He's the concept/idea, and the expression of the concept/idea. The word “declare” means to lead out or explain (the truth) from which we get the English exegesis. Jesus explains the Father, because He is one and the same with the Father.
1:19-51 John the Baptist (not the author) points people to Jesus the Lamb of God. Some follow, and some don't. The Savior of the world is in view; the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement was a goat; there was no lamb sin offering except in Isaiah 53. Note that John squarely places the Baptizer in the context of Isaiah 40 herald of the Kingdom, as do the other gospels. John was the last gospel to be written and demonstrates an awareness of the other gospels. Here he reveals that the Father who sent the Baptizer had revealed to him that the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit (New Covenant promise -Ezek 36:27) would be recognized by the descent of the Dove. John testifies to this and that Jesus is the Son of God (not a child of God, two different words in Greek huios=son; teknon=child -1:12).
The disciples were looking for the Messiah promised in the OT, and when John the herald of the Messiah and His kingdom, points Him out, those who were following John, switched to following Jesus. They note that He is the son of Joseph, as well. Jesus reveals to guileless Nathanael that He saw him under the fig tree. Whatever he was doing isn't revealed, but it was so significant to Nat that He overcomes his initial reluctance, and professes Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel. Jesus promises far greater things will be seen by those who respond to His invitation to “come and see.” He alludes to Jacob's dream in Genesis 28:12-14, in which God reiterated the universal blessing of the Abrahamic covenant and Daniel's vision in 7:13, in which the Son of Man is given authority and a kingdom that will never end.
Application: Everyone has faith, or the ability to trust in something (like you have trust the chair you sit in will hold your weight). The issue is the object of one's faith. “That things will turn out well” is not a good object of one's faith, for it's based upon sheer speculation; that Jesus is the Author and Sustainer of life, is a far better choice, because it is based upon solid, authenticated revelation, and results in spiritual life.
Prayer: Jesus, I believe that You are not only the Creator of my life, but the Lamb of God who takes away my sins, so I can have eternal life. Thanks for leaving the comfort of heaven to save me; may I leave my comforts to follow You. Amen.
John 2 There's Joy in Following Jesus
2:1 The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. 2 Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no wine." 4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do it." 6 Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews' manner of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the water pots with water." They filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast." So they took it. 9 When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn't know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!" 11 This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days. 13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15 He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables. 16 To those who sold the doves, he said, "Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house a marketplace!" 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will eat me up." 18 The Jews therefore answered him, "What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews therefore said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did. 24 But Jesus didn't trust himself to them, because he knew everyone, 25 and because he didn't need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
Observations: 2:1-11 John records Jesus' first miracle, an interesting choice for someone who could have done anything. With all the needs in the world, why change water into wine? There are lots of implications one could draw from the miracle, and Jesus doesn't give us an explanation of its meaning, as He does with some other miracles. Maybe that's because He had previously given us some explanation in chapter one. There are a few observations in the narrative which stand out. The point of Jesus' ministry at this juncture is not to solve the world's problems, but announce the Kingdom promised in the OT. One of the promised blessings is that Israel would be restored to the land, plant vineyards and drink their wine. Wine was a symbol of joy and abundance in the Messianic age. The Millennial Kingdom kicks off with a wedding feast (Marriage Supper of the Lamb) and this miracle foreshadows it. In John 15, where Jesus reveals Himself as the vine to those who believe in Him, He speaks of abiding, so that one's joy would be full. Water was necessary for mere survival. But Jesus came to bring abundant life, so wine is appropriate. The law with its ritual came through Moses but abundant grace came though Jesus, better than anything before it. The water was used for Jewish ritual washings; Jesus changed that into feasting. However, it takes effort to make wine. John emphasizes that His mother says “do whatever He tells you,” which is what we need to do to experience the fine wine, better than anything before it. Interestingly, Jesus said in John 15 that obedient abiding is a prerequisite to joy.
This is when Jesus' disciples have a basis for belief beyond the testimony of John (and Nathanael). They saw and experienced Jesus' work, because they were willing to follow Him. Many miss out because of their unwillingness to “come and see.”
2:12-25 Jesus leaves Nazareth (Luke 4 tells us they kicked him out of town), and moves to Capernaum. He goes to Jerusalem at the Passover and cleans house. The other gospels have the trip to the temple after His triumphal entry just before He was crucified, so most posit two trips. When Jesus is challenged and asked for a sign, He gives them the sign of Jonah, even though the next verses record Him doing other miracles. This is a great example of the aorist tense in Greek referring to an event, taking a snapshot of the action, but not describing the duration of it. Some erroneously say the aorist tense refers to a point of action in the past, and it can do that. But here it refers to a process that took 46 years. The context always determines the type of action. John links the comment about the Temple to Jesus' resurrection, as the basis of the disciples believing not just in Him, but in His word.
Jesus does more miracles (not the “Seven Signs”), but the specifics are not given. The result of people “coming and seeing” is that they believe, although the establishment people in the temple (His own) rejected Him.
Application: Those who follow Jesus, and do what He says, experience joy. Those who don't, don't.
Prayer: Jesus, thanks for inviting me to “come and see” You at work, and showing Yourself true to Your promises. May I experience not only life, but the abundant life You came to give. Amen.
John 3 You Must Be Born Again
3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and don't understand these things? 11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in/by God."
22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet thrown into prison. 25 There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with some Jews about purification. 26 They came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him." 27 John answered, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.' 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."
Observations: 3:1-21 See exposition of this most famous passage in the sidebar under Introduction to the 7PASSAGES and How to Study the Bible like Sherlock 'Olmes (last section). Nicodemus eventually becomes a disciple of Jesus, but the beginning is a little difficult for him. Like the rich young ruler, he wants to have a possession in the Kingdom of God, as Jesus answer reveals. But for that to occur, he needs to be born again/anew. Jesus is referring to spiritual rebirth, but Nic takes it literally and physically. Born of water is physical birth, as verse 6 indicates. Born of Spirit has to be the spiritual rebirth of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31 see comment on a new heart there), because Nic was suppose to know this as an OT teacher. We see the effects of the wind, but we can't see wind. Similarly with the Spirit, one sees the effects, but not the Spirit. Jesus picks up the prologue themes of being the author of life and spokesman/exegete to present Himself as God's source of spiritual life.
In Numbers 21 the people spoke against God and doubted His goodness, so He sent fiery serpents to afflict and kill them. When they cried out in repentance, He told Moses to make a bronze serpent, put it on a pole and lift it up. All people had to do was look to God's provision for their sin, and the pain and death stopped. In the same way, the Son of Man was God's provision for the sin of the world. When they realize they need a solution for the consequences of their sin, they need to look to or believe in God's provision, which is the Lamb of God. John 3:16 also defines God's agape love as self-sacrifice in the cause of another's highest interest/benefit (it's not the word for fond feelings). The person who accepts/believes in God's provision gets eternal life (more on this in future passages). The one who believes escapes condemnation/judgment. The one who doesn't believe/accept Jesus as God's provision for their sin, has already been condemned, because sin and evil have already been judged as such. The ones who don't come to the light are those whose deeds are evil, so they hide in the dark, which results in death. The light is what gives life. The one who does the truth doesn't have to hide, but that person comes to the light is so that their deeds are seen to be produced in/by God.
3:22-36 John 4:1-2 tells us that Jesus baptized more disciples than John (although His disciples did the dunking). John's disciples express a concern, or perhaps a jealousy. John affirms Jesus' mission and His own role in it. The Baptizer recognizes that Jesus is the Bridegroom, and he is just a friend who rejoices in Him. There is no jealousy, because it's not about JB, but about Jesus. The great ministry principle of developing others comes out of JB's words “He must increase, but I must decrease.” JB's job was to testify to Jesus who would testify to heavenly things. The only way a finite being can know infinite truth is if an Infinite Being reveals it to him/her. Jesus is the exegete/explainer, who gives the world the words of God. The last verse 3:36 should be as famous as John 3:16, because more people are motivated by fear than desire. God not only offers eternal life, but those who don't accept the Son will not only miss out, but will reap the wrath of God for their sins.
Application: If you haven't already done so, decide to trust/accept Jesus as the provision for your sin. See the sidebar, “How to Get to Heaven in Ten Minutes” or the Bridge to Life on Truthbase.net. There's no need to reap wrath.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thanks for sending the Lord Jesus to die for my sins; thanks for forgiving me on the basis of His death; may I experience the abundant life You desire for me, walking in the light instead of the dark. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God sends and authenticates Jesus so people can experience the abundant life He designed for them as His children.
Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is the light and life of the world, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, so all can become children of God.
Us in a nutshell: Those who accept Jesus and believe in Him have life, and those who continue to believe have it abundantly. Those who don't will stumble in the dark until they experience the wrath they've earned.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
John complete text
John 1
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it. 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.'" 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. 19 This is John's testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He declared, and didn't deny, but he declared, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 They said therefore to him, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said." 24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" 26 John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen." 28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.' 31 I didn't know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel." 32 John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I didn't recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, 'On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God." 35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come, and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah!" (which is, being interpreted, Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is by interpretation, Peter). 43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, 'I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these!" 51 He said to him, "Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
John 2
2:1 The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. 2 Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no wine." 4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do it." 6 Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews' manner of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the water pots with water." They filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast." So they took it. 9 When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn't know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!" 11 This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days. 13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15 He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables. 16 To those who sold the doves, he said, "Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house a marketplace!" 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will eat me up." 18 The Jews therefore answered him, "What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews therefore said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did. 24 But Jesus didn't trust himself to them, because he knew everyone, 25 and because he didn't need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
John 3
3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and don't understand these things? 11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God." 22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet thrown into prison. 25 There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with some Jews about purification. 26 They came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him." 27 John answered, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.' 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."
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