John - Week 5

Rebuilding the Temple 

READ 

John 2:20-22 

20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said. 

This is another example that when you come across something in the Bible you do not understand, keep reading. It will usually be explained. The religious unbelievers did not have the Bible at that time to keep reading. The apostle John, however, was able to record the reaction of the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus. This is also an example of the Old Testament being called “the Scriptures.” The Christian Bible contains 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Both testaments can be called “the Scriptures” or “the Bible.” 

REFLECT 

Cite an example you have found in your Bible reading where you wondered about a term and found the answer as you read on. 

RESPOND 

Write a short prayer thanking Jesus for giving His body on the cross and dying for your sins. Especially thank Him for rising from the dead that proved all He claimed to be was true and salvation had been provided for all who would receive Him as Savior. 

 He Knows the Heart 

READ 

John 2:23-25 

23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart. 

Many who believed He was the Messiah apparently did not trust in Him as Savior. The gospel of Matthew 7:22-23 records what Jesus will say to those who do not trust in Him as Savior. “At the Judgment many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.’ But I will reply, ‘You have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil.’” Judas was like that. He was one of the disciples and must have done what the other disciples were doing because they never suspected him of being an unbeliever.  

REFLECT 

What lesson do you draw from this passage of Scripture in John? 

RESPOND 

When did you change from believing in the existence of Jesus to trusting in Him as Savior? Share your testimony with a friend. 

Enter Nicodemus 

READ 

John 3:1-2 

1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” 

We now come to one of the most familiar passages in John, at least to many believers. 

Notice what these two verses tell us about Nicodemus: 1) he was Jewish; 2) he was a religious leader; 3) he was a Pharisee; 4) he knew about Jesus; 5) he wanted to speak with Jesus; 6) he believed God had sent Jesus to teach the people; and 7) he knew about the miracles of Jesus. And one could add, He came to Jesus “after dark.” Nicodemus is seen again in John’s gospel when he came with Joseph of Arimathea to care for the body of Jesus after His crucifixion (see John 19:38 and following). 

REFLECT 

Think of how much a person can know about Jesus and still not be a believer in Him. 

RESPOND 

With a friend, read John 19:38-42 and talk about how “secret” believers came forward when other believers did not. 

Born Again 

READ 

John 3:3-4 

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot 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?” 

You will also come across those who have no idea about the spiritual meaning of being born again. “Born again” has become an overused term even by unbelievers today. There’s another way to ask the question because the word “again” in the original language of the New Testament means “from above.” You could let a person know the individual has had the birth that comes from below into a human family, but has the person had the spiritual birth that comes from above? Having both indicates the person has been “born again.” 

REFLECT 

Think about how you can weave into your conversation about Jesus a way to ask the person about spiritual birth. Write some thoughts about this. 

RESPOND 

We also need to ask God for help in witnessing. We can never convert anyone, only the Holy Spirit can do that. Our responsibility is to be faithful witnesses. Ask God to enable you to be a more faithful witness with the courage to ask others about their spiritual condition. 

Life from Heaven 

READ 

John 3:5-8 

5 Jesus replied, “What I am telling you so earnestly is this: Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 Men can only reproduce human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven; 7 so don’t be surprised at my statement that you must be born again! 8 Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it will go next, so it is with the Spirit. We do not know on whom he will next bestow this life from heaven.” 

Do you see how Jesus gently instructed Nicodemus as He moved from the known to the unknown? Nicodemus knew how physical life was reproduced, but he didn’t know how spiritual life was produced. Jesus also made it clear that the Holy Spirit was the one who gave spiritual life. The same is true for Christ-followers: they are to faithfully witness about Jesus and His resurrection but only the Holy Spirit can eternally change a person’s destiny from hell to heaven. 

REFLECT 

Begin a list of some individuals you want God to open their hearts to hear and respond to your witness.  

RESPOND 

Also begin a list of persons younger in the faith than you with whom you would like to meet to disciple by passing on some of the spiritual truths you are learning.