Whoever Believes

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison). John 3:22-24

After this conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus and his disciples went about their ministry of evangelizing and baptizing those who believed. Jesus was the overseer in this case, as John tells us in chapter 4:2 that Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples. Those who were receiving baptism were identifying with Jesus; being baptized into Him.

The name Aenon means “place of many waters.” There were several springs in that area. The Baptist had set up in that location with his disciples and was baptizing, also. It seems he still had a vigorous ministry among the people, preparing them to enter the kingdom of God by changing their attitudes and demonstrating this change by receiving water baptism. (There is a paragraph on the meaning of water baptism in the blog post of August 15, 2013, titled Grace and Truth. John 1:28 in the study.)

The Jews were still watching every move, eager to find anything to kibitz these street preachers about. One of the Jews, a Pharisee no doubt, began to question John’s disciples about the meaning of the ritual. The objective of the debate was to cast suspicion on both John’s and Jesus’ qualifications to perform such priestly functions among the people. It was also a blatant attempt to arouse jealousy between John and Jesus and between their disciples. Jealousy was something the Pharisees were experts at, since they obviously seethed with it themselves. They also operated under ulterior personal motives, and naturally suspected everyone else of the same selfishness.

Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John 3:25-26

There’s that phony Pharisaic flattery again, as Nicodemus tried to use on Jesus. “Rabbi” was a title John did not claim, and he had no degree in theology, but he certainly knew where his qualification came from. He did not seek or need The Jews’ approval for his work. The issue of  "purification" was another category of temple racketeering, by which The Jews controlled the lives of the people. Apparently, they were trying to compare this baptism of John and Jesus with that practice. Their chief occupation seems to have been debating legalisms. I call it doctrinal hair-splitting. We see a lot of it nowadays, too, among Christians whose energy would be better spent presenting the gospel message to the world. Doctrine is of supreme importance to growing and mature believers, as we are stabilized by what we know of God, but public arguing about it can be a real distraction to those who love to judge us by worldly standards.

John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.” John 3:27-29

There was no competition between John and Jesus. John knew exactly what he was born and anointed to do: prepare the way for the Messiah, and introduce Him to Israel. That was his gift and calling from God the Father, and that was his only objective in life. The glorification of Jesus Christ fulfilled John’s ministry. John did his work with a relaxed mental attitude, totally without jealousy.

The bridegroom is the man of the hour. The friend of the bridegroom has behind-the-scenes duties of preparation for the blessed union of the bridegroom and his bride. The fulfillment of these special duties gives the friend of the bridegroom much pleasure and satisfaction; a sense of accomplishing his purpose in life, as unto the Lord. He experiences overwhelming joy at the happiness of his friend.

 Verse 30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Up to this point, Jesus was rather obscure on the Judean scene. He had made His ministerial debut, though, and was beginning to gain the attention of the common people and The Jews. This little debate with John was the beginning of The Jews’ open harassment of Jesus. As He would rise to prominence among the people, the Jews’ constant surveillance and criticism of Him would intensify.

Jesus’ ministry and prominence would certainly increase, and John knew that. That was according to the plan and purpose of the Father. And, having done the job he was born to do, John’s ministry would decrease. That brought to him a deep sense of satisfaction. No jealousy. Pure joy.

He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. John 3:31-35

God the Son, Who came from heaven, is the supreme ruler of the universe. He is Sovereignty. He is Righteousness. He is Justice. He is Love. He is Eternal Life. He is Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Omniscience, Veracity and Immutability. His words are the words of eternal God, because that is Who He is and He can only speak the truth of what He has known from eternity past. The plan of salvation was decreed before the foundation of the earth. He has now come to fulfill it. A man of earth cannot speak accurately of God’s plan of grace without having the Spirit of God to give him understanding. Jesus, being God, has always had the Spirit of God. His knowledge and authority are without measure. His power is unlimited. Most men of earth don’t understand Jesus’ teachings. Those who do understand Him give Him their endorsement (sets his seal), admitting the truth of God’s Word.

In John 3:18 we saw Jesus’ statement to Nicodemus that

 “Whoever believes in him (God’s uniquely born Son) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name (person and work) of the only Son of God.”

Here in verse 36 we see John the Baptist’s statement of that same truth:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Whoever. Yes, that means anyone. 

Born of the Spirit

We see discussion all day and night by people of various denominational identities, about just what constitutes salvation. What must one do to receive eternal life? The argument among men seems endless, and they quote from various familiar scriptures to prove what steps must be taken and in what order, to gain God’s favor and become His child. There are some who even insist that by virtue of being born human, you already are God’s child. Others quote from the epistles, scripture which was written to those already saved, explaining the profound doctrines of regeneration and sanctification. Many maintain that if one doesn’t exhibit a certain behavior pattern which meets other humans' approval, that person is certainly not saved.

In chapter 3 of John’s gospel, we have Jesus’ own formula for salvation:

John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Immediately we know a great deal about this man. As a Pharisee, he was a highly religious man; a rigid morlalist. Religion is a hindrance to truth. Religious people are totally blinded by their good-deeds system. They have no concept of grace and don't really understand what is sin. Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews. Remember, "The Jews" is a technical term for those who controlled the common people of Israel by oppressive man-made religion. The title ruler means he ranked high in leadership qualifications. He was a Master of Theology. There is no reason not to believe he was a very nice man, in spite of his elevated status.

Verse 2- This man came to Jesus 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.”

We are not told why Nicodemus came by night. We’ve heard some snarky suggestions by some very learned and somewhat pompous Bible teachers, such as he was too busy doing good deeds all day, that he was afraid to be seen speaking with this street preacher in daylight, that the Committee for the Preservation of Pharisaic Religion had appointed Nicodemus to get whatever information he could wheedle out of Jesus, by feigning humility and admiration. All the scripture gives us is his complimentary remark to Jesus, that His public work has been noticed, and it seems obvious that he Has a divine power source. It may have been sincere observation, or phony flattery; we don’t know, but Jesus knew. Whatever the case, He cut right through to the issue of eternal life:

Verse 3- Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 

If this Master of Israel was expecting Jesus to engage in a hair-splitting debate about ifs ands and buts, Jesus' statement of truth must have given him quite a jolt. Jesus didn't debate, He stated, as the one with authority.
“Truly, Truly” signifies an important point of doctrine. Perfect truth. Not only can one not see the kingdom by living there in eternity, one cannot see spiritual truths of the kingdom in everyday life, because that person is spiritually dead. He who is spiritually dead must be born from above in order to see the kingdom of God. There are no shades of grey in this statement. No degrees of regeneration.

Verse 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?”

The utterly clueless response of an unbeliever. Spiritual truth makes no sense to him. It cannot, because he is not equipped to receive it. Therefore, he responds with bemused sarcasm.

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit,interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:13-14

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6

There it is again, “point of doctrine: born of water and the spirit….” What water was Jesus speaking of?

Water of Salvation Isaiah 55:1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Notice it is free.
Water of the Word Ephesians 5:26 “ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” Christ does the washing.
Water of the Holy Spirit John 7:38-39 “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive…” Available only to those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:7-8

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, that fallen man has to be changed to have fellowship with God. Man’s depraved state is the story of human history, and of all humans, a ruler of the Jews should know that. Just as one cannot see the wind, but can see and hear the effect of the wind, so it is with the Spirit of God. This man’s lifelong career was study of scripture, or certainly should have been. Jesus laid it on him after Nicodemus expressed absolute amazement:

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:9-15

How could you not understand these things, Nicodemus? You are a teacher of God’s Word? What, then, have you been teaching? Works, of course. Legalism. Religion. Superstition. How many steps one can take on the Sabbath day. How to rationalize your human good into rewardable deeds.

“We” - Jesus, speaking in the plural, speaks for the Godhead. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have all communicated truth to Israel for generations, but have been consistently ignored. These are not theological theories, but absolute truths – “what we know…..what we have seen.”  I stand before you in the flesh, telling you earthly things, simple concepts. You have no means of comprehending heavenly things. Only one human has ever ascended to heaven, and it is He who came from heaven, Jesus Christ. That man would be the expert. 

I give you simple truth, just as the Israelites in the desert had a simple truth to know and obey. In Numbers chapter 21 (familiar scripture to Nicodemus) there was only one way the serpent-bitten people could be healed: look to the bronze serpent on the pole and know that God would heal them. Likewise, we all must look to our Savior’s finished work on the cross and know that through Him alone, God will save us. "...so must the Son of Man be lifted up..."

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16-18

It is entirely a matter of faith. There is nothing we can do about it. "whoever" means any person. God sent His uniquely born Son (the only one born without a sin nature) to pay the penalty for every sin of humanity. Jesus didn’t come to condemn us, for we were already condemned by having been born spiritually dead. He came to save us. None of us can pay that penalty, because we are all stained with the sin nature. It must be paid, or mankind is doomed to eternal damnation, not for anything we have done, but for what we have not done: believed in the person and work (name) of the only Son of God. The sins of the world are paid for, but the salvation is individually received by everyone who believes in Him. And just to be clear, Verse 18 emphasizes: whoever does not believe is already condemned. The consequence of not believing is remaining in sin. That is each individual’s option in life. Receive Jesus and live IN HIM eternally, or reject Jesus and remain condemned. God does not send people to hell. It is their choice. This is the perfect Justice of God.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”John 3:19-21

"wicked things" - Human good. Unregenerate man loves darkness. That is a natural fact. Spiritually dead people are attracted to evil. Even those who are humanly moral, self-righteous do-gooders are simply kidding themselves with their own code of conduct that they have made up for themselves, or patterned after some worldly religion. With an air of superiority, they think they have no need for a savior, and keep counting points in their self-designed system of righteousness. Human good is no good.

"what is true" - Divine good. Work of God the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

If you want to see the kingdom of God, if you hope to enter the kingdom of God....

You must be born again.

Zeal for the Father’s House

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. John 2:13

“The Jews,” we remember, does not just mean the Israeli people, but it is the New Testament term for the leaders of the Jewish religio/political system, which kept its foot on the neck of the Israeli people. It was a system of control by fear and superstition – legalism. The legitimate Passover of God was a commemoration of the night the death angel passed over the Jewish households as the firstborn of Egypt were being killed. The blood of the lamb without spot or blemish had been sprinkled on the doorposts of those Jewish families, who were safe inside; behind that redeeming blood, which represented the Savior Who was to come. The Lord’s Passover was established in Exodus 12:14, as He was preparing Israel to be delivered from Egyptian bondage. By the time of Christ, The Jews had turned this sacred commemorative feast into a religious ritual, complete with their own system of extortion for qualification to participate.

In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. John 2:14

This had become a racket in the temple. The Jews conned the common worshipers who felt constrained to follow the man-made rituals. They were told that their own animals were not good enough to be used for sacrifice. They must buy from the temple merchants specially “blessed” animals at exorbitant rates. These same merchants also had a protection arrangement with the highway robbers of the area, who were in on the take. Making merchandise of ministry is not a new thing, brethren.

And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” John 2:15-17

Yes. Our gentle, loving Lord Jesus was angry! Contrary to popular belief and myriads of “portraits” by artists who never saw Jesus, He was a powerful, muscular man in perfect health who had done physical work most of His life. He did not hesitate to drive out the merchants and their animals with his hand-made whip as He violently overturned their tables of exchange. “Take these things….” His command was in the aorist imperative: “Right now! Get out!” There will be no discussion.

His disciples, who knew the Old Testament, remembered the quote from Psalm 69:9. “Zeal” means ardor, or heated passion.

So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. John 2:18-22

The Jews demanded to know by what authority “what sign” Jesus could do such things. The question implied: “Just who do you think you are?”

His answer: “when you destroy this temple (My body), in three days I will raise it up.”  Of course, they didn’t get it. They could not, for they were religious unbelievers. His own disciples didn’t get it, either, because they were weak and new in the faith, and were standing there stunned by what they had just seen Him do. Three years later, John says in retrospect, they remembered His words and believed Who He was.

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. John 2:23-25

At this, His first Passover celebration with His disciples, Jesus apparently was performing many miracles among the people, causing them to believe He really was the Messiah. Jesus, however, knew that most of this was shallow, emotional reaction to the miracles, and not real faith. Many people believe Jesus is real and can perform miracles. Many of those same people do not fully trust in Him for their own salvation. They want tricks, gimmicks, entertainment, strokes, sentimentality; but when it comes to eternal life, they rely on a system of works, which cannot save.

Nobody had to tell the omniscient creator of life what was really going on with these early admirers. He knows our souls. The pretenders don’t receive His intimacy, because they cannot comprehend it.

The miracles of Jesus focused attention on His person and His ministry.

Jesus is God. God is sovereign of the universe; therefore the universe does His bidding. So-called scientific laws do not exist. Laws of science are simply evidence of God’s order. Definition of science: systematized knowledge. Science cannot enforce its laws. The universe follows a pattern, because God designed it to be just that way. When God is finished with “scientific laws,” He will dispense with them. The universe was created and will be destroyed by the word of His mouth. Colossians 1:17, And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Hebrews 1:3, He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. How is the universe sustained? By God’s faithfulness and stability.

If Jesus had come to perform healing miracles, there would be no sick humans. If He had come to take over political leadership of the world, we would all be living under His peaceful rule today.

Jesus didn’t come in His first advent to perform miracles, but to atone for the sins of mankind. The miracles He performed along the way verified His deity. 

The Jews wanted signs. They got signs. The signs frightened and infuriated them.

Creative Power

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. John 2:1

“On the third day” indicates a progression of events as Jesus began His public ministry with His disciples.
Day one was when John the Baptizer introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, John 1:29.

Day two – “the next day,” John 1:35. John encouraged his own disciples to go with The Lamb of God, and Jesus found a few other disciples to join His work.

Now comes “the third day,” of Jesus’ public ministry. Those who are with Jesus, as well as those who are watching Him are about to see a demonstration of His power, at a social event. That would provide a built-in audience of people just having a good time together, most likely in an amiable mood; not expecting anything from Him. Jesus’ mother was there, which is probably the reason He was invited.

Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”  John 2:2-3

Mary seems to have known her son could do something about this. It is not from her observation about the wine that we get this, but from Jesus’ response, indicating that He knew she wanted Him to remedy the situation.

The issue in this passage is not the wine and is not even the wedding. The issue is the creative power (omnipotence) of God the Son.

  

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:4-5

He referred to her as “woman,” not mother. The tone was sharp, not intimate. It was like a warning, as in “don’t rush me, Madam.”  Mary was the mother of the humanity of the God-Man, and she knew Who He was. Like any typical mother, she ignored His statement and calmly instructed the servants to follow Jesus’ instructions. This party was about to be spoiled by a lack of wine, and she knew He could fix it. She didn’t want her friends to be embarrassed. Perhaps more than that, here was an opportunity to show off her first-born, before He embarked on His mission to the nation and the world. Even if this was not the appropriate time for His divine debut, Jesus graciously accommodated the mother of His humanity and saved the celebration of her friends.

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” John 2:6-10 

The water in those jars was there for cleansing hands and feet before entering the house.  Jesus instantaneously fermented the wine by the same power He had used to create original life in the universe. This manifested the omnipotence of God. It announced the presence of the Messiah.

There is interesting symbolism here:
Water Jars – empty human souls
Water – salvation, Holy Spirit, Word of God
Wine – happiness, joy, dedication

“the good wine.” The master of the feast had to approve the wine before it could be offered to the guests. This was robust, fermented, real wine; served at social celebrations. It was not the unfermented juice used at the Passover.

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:11

His first public miracle gave His disciples confirmation of His power. Therefore, it strengthened their faith in Him. They believed John when he introduced to them The Lamb of God, and every Jew knew exactly what that title meant. This was the One sent by the Father to be the atoning sacrifice. The One represented by the Passover lamb in ceremonies commemorating their freedom from slavery. John's witness was of great value to them, but now they had actually seen His power at work in the world. They were ready to accompany Him anywhere. 

John 2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.  

Mary had several other sons, after Jesus. It is assumed that Joseph had died by this time, and as the firstborn, Jesus would see to the familial needs before setting out on His incomprehensible mission. This visit may have been an emotionally charged send-off for the team. His brothers were ordinary, fully human men with Old Sin Natures. They didn’t really grasp their older brother’s purpose, as of course, no one did but Himself. Their brother was perfect, sinless, always well-behaved, authoritative, somewhat peculiar….decidedly different. It must have been difficult for them to live with at times.

What a blessed few days that must have been, with Mary and His half-brothers and maybe some sisters, as He prepared to begin the journey that would take Him and His disciples through the fire of religious persecution and would lead to His humiliating death with all of His family and disciples watching. It must have been bittersweet for Him, being the only one of them who knew for certain what awaited them. His execution was 3 years away, but that is not a long time in the human scheme of things, and they would endure unrelenting oppression while having wonderful times of spiritual awakening and precious fellowship as they learned from the Sovereign Lord of the Universe.