God’s Word Saves
Or
Nicodemus Learns of New Birth
John 3:11-21
International Sunday School Lesson
March 25, 2012
Commentary
By
Jed Greenough
It is not illogical to think that I might write these lessons in a way that would do the most good for the greatest number of readers. This day I am afraid is no exception as my goal is to grab you by the proverbial lapels and give a little, shall we say, shake!
If you are a student my goal would be to not have you turn into a teacher per say but rather that you teach by the Christian life you lead. And if you are a teacher that God has indeed given the gift of teaching to that you one day not receive a Nicodemus-type dressing down from He who blessed you.
Nicodemus you see was a Pharisee, a member of the ruling Jewish council, a teacher of the people according to Jesus. This man who the people would have respected did not approach Jesus with boldness. He did not let his associates or the citizens know He was visiting Jesus but rather used the cover of darkness to hide his visit.
He and evidently some of his peers knew that Jesus was at least from God but the threat that Jesus posed to their order was too great. They didn’t want this threat to grow and they did not want to lose their grip on power.
Jesus knew all this and it is part of what He alludes to in His short sermon to Nicodemus as He compares light to darkness and of how whoever lives by the truth comes into the light. You must know that Nicodemus had to be struck immediately to the core as he had come in the cover of darkness so as to not be exposed. Imagine the impact for the people had this teacher of the people come boldly forward with those that followed Jesus to inquire of Him instead.
What then do you as a teacher actually gifted by God use as your cover of darkness? Is it the church? Don’t get me wrong, the church is a good place to be but this isn’t the only place you are to teach. If you are to truly give freely of the gift you are teaching, if you are really going to come into the light “so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God”, then you must teach outside of the church also so that your people, your world will benefit, something Nicodemus hadn’t been willing to do.
Things are tougher for the teacher there is no denying that. But the student who doesn’t share the gospel will have to answer for that as well. Jesus said, “whoever lives by the truth comes into the light”, not whoever teaches.
Whoever, it isn’t normally a very powerful word but in today’s context it is. Whoever believes may have eternal life, whoever believes is not condemned, whoever doesn’t is. And again whoever does live because of this belief will come into the light so that they are plainly seen. Don’t hide in the darkness whatever your darkness may be but rather shine.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
For Discussion:
1. Discuss the fact that as Christians though we may still live in mortal bodies we are to live more and more like the Spirit that we have within us.
2. Discuss the need to live our lives as Christians more boldly for all to see not just those where we worship.
3. Discuss the issue of whether we have grown too comfortable worshiping in our churches. Consider Mark 2:15-17 “While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
4. One must not forget when talking of Nicodemus to remember his speaking up before his peers in Matthew 7:50 and his presence with Joseph of Arimathea with Jesus’ body in John 19:38-42.
5. There are deep questions to be discussed in today’s scripture if you care to go there. For example:
a. Is John 3:16, perhaps the most well-known verse in the Bible also the most dangerous?
b. What does it mean to believe? Look up the word believe in an exhaustive concordance such as Strongs.
c. Can we say someone truly believes if there is no evidence of that belief?
d. Can someone believe and still be in the darkness?
You know the people that make up your class, using that fact find the many other deeper questions to ask for their benefit.
Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries
4-1-12: Jesus Testifies to the Truth John 18:28-37 or John 18:28-38
4-8-12: The Living Word (Jesus Lives) John 20:1-10, 19-20
4-15-12: Cleansing the Temple (Temple is Cleansed) John 2:13-22
4-22-12: Woman of Samaria (Samaritan Woman Finds Living Water) John 4:7-15, 23-26, 28-30 or John 4:7-15, 21-30
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
Thanks. I will be using some of your question to supplement my lesson tomorrow! I also like the sticky note idea and am putting one in my car and one on my phone at work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me hear from you and thanks for teaching! Jed
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