The Week in Review

John 3 and 4 Essay

Jewel D. Williams

God has such a great love for mankind, that he does not want anyone to miss receiving the message of salvation. Therefore Jesus gives the illustration of how to tell the message to others. Jesus encounters several people and relates to each of them in different ways. Jesus shows how to take an encounter and present information that motivates a person to seek him more. Jesus relates to specific people, Nicodemus and the woman at the well, and shows how to present the Gospel successfully.


In the book of John chapter 3, Jesus is approached by Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus was a learned man, a Pharisee, who understood the Law of God. This Nicodemus comes to speak to Jesus by night. It is not stated in the scripture why he came at night. One reason might be not to draw attention to his coming to Jesus. Another reason may be out of his fear of being seen by others, knowing the scrutiny that Jesus was under. Whatever the reason for the late visit, Jesus does not turn him away. The first lesson in this example is to be ready at anytime and in any situation to give an account about Godly things. A believer cannot pick the perfect atmosphere or the circumstances to present the Gospel. There may be some times when the opportunity arises and because of work or other obligations one can be tired, yet one must take the opportunity. One could imagine that after all that Jesus had done, night would have been a time he welcomed to be alone. Yet, he gave himself for the mission.


Nicodemus comes expressing his desire to know more when he calls Jesus a teacher from God. Jesus responds to Nicodemus by presenting to him the necessity and nature of regeneration or new birth. Jesus let Nicodemus know what he needed was a change in his spirit (heart), to be born again. The Jewish people were looking for a savior to come and change the political state, and Nicodemus may have come to be a part of that change. Yet, Jesus let Nicodemus know he came to change the spiritual state of man.


This second example is to let the believer know that one must be ready to give an accurate account of what changes people’s lives, the Gospel message. It will not be the social changes or programs set in place that will change the lives of people, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The pursuit of social changes and programs are only a band-aid on the real problem in society, sin. This is the message Jesus is giving to Nicodemus.

Nicodemus does not show arrogance, but willingly expresses his ignorance when he asks the next question of how is one born again. Jesus goes deeper in his explanation of the Gospel message. He tells Nicodemus that it is by water and the Spirit that one must be born again. Jesus is telling him, it is the cleansing of the Spirit that will make him new or born again. Jesus shows believers by his example, to be willing to take the extra step in explaining the Gospel story. There are those that do not understand and wish to have the message made clear, and one must be willing to explain the basic truth about salvation. Nicodemus was amazed at the message and he could not understand how these things could be. Jesus responds to him, are not you a teacher? The message is clear, even those that should be teachers may be in need of being taught the truth of God. Jesus is showing believers not to be intimidated when presenting the Gospel message to people with credentials or standing in your community. It did not matter that Nicodemus was one taught in the law Jesus knew he was in need of understanding the deeper things. Believers must recognize the Gospel message is for all people. God’s message is for the rich, the poor, the educated, and the uneducated. The Gospel message is for all people because they are precious in his sight.


Jesus used an example of salvation that was familiar to Nicodemus. He tells him about the serpent Moses lifts up in the wilderness. Jesus wants Nicodemus to understand that he was the one sent by God to heal the people of their sins and if Jesus’ name were lifted up, he would draw all men. Nicodemus may have been confused at what the message was, but Jesus continues to explain it. He tells Nicodemus those that come to the light will receive the gift of salvation from God.

“And there came also Nicodemus which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight” (John 19:39). This verse gives witness that Nicodemus had a change in his life after encountering Jesus. He went from knowing about Jesus, to knowing Jesus. This Nicodemus that came to Jesus at night, now comes boldly before all to minister to the Lord’s body. This is encouragement for the believers to be faithful in giving the message even if the fruit is not seen right away. It is God’s spirit that will convict the heart. It is not the individual that does the convicting, but God working through the efforts of those that either plant and/or water (come back next week for the next installment).