John 3
Devotional by Brett Mosser
Read John 3
John 3
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,”said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John Testifies Again About Jesus
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
Devotional
John 3 offers a powerful glimpse into the hope of the gospel. Verses 16 and 17 remind us that Jesus came to save us out of extraordinary love. He did not come to condemn but to bring salvation. Those who believe in Him step into his light and receive the gift of eternal life. In his conversation with Nicodemus, a respected religious leader, Jesus reveals He is the Light of the World, the one who overcomes all darkness. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, but in their exchange, he discovered a Savior who could illuminate even the darkest moments. Jesus is the Light of the World, bringing hope and peace to all who follow him.
Several years ago, I went hiking with my youngest daughter, Trenna, on a January afternoon. We began hiking near dusk and soon found ourselves in complete darkness without a flashlight or cell service (which, in hindsight, was not the wisest decision). Panic set in until we finally spotted a streetlight in the distance. That light brought us relief, hope, and comfort.
Jesus, the Light of the World, offers infinitely more hope than any earthly light. His light guides, restores, and gives life. Let us always be ready to share the reason for our hope in him (1 Peter 3:15).
Have you placed your hope in Jesus, the Light of the World? If not, what is holding you back from starting a relationship with Him?
If you are walking in the Light as a follower of Christ, who can you share your hope with today?
Grateful for the light of Jesus, who brought to my life that was filled with darkness and despair. My desire is to share that hope with whoever I encounter, specifically parents and families in our neighborhood.
What a lovely, simple explanation of this wonderful truth.
PRAISE THE LORD AND AMEN!!🙏✝🕊📖
Jesus is the Light of the World! I pray that as I go about my daily business, that His Light will shine through me. Our world desperately needs the Light of Jesus!
I’m very grateful and happy that I started growing a relationship with the Lord. I’m always able to share this with family and friends because my love for Jesus shines above all things especially for everything he’s done for us!
Thank you Jesus for bringing me out of utter darkness into your marvelous light! I pray that I will be bold enough to share the reason for my hope today 🙏🏾
Thank you Father for my favorite verse John 3:16.
For You so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son Jesus that whosoever believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
Jesus if there is anyone who is reading and has yet to believe in You open their heart and may they feel Your love for them. For You came in love not to condemn. Save them Lord Jesus. Amen.
Lord help me to be the Light to those I come in contact with. Thank you for
bringing light into my life.
For all the years I have known you, you have always been a shining light of love for Jesus. May God bless you and Gene.
Father, use our hands to build up the kingdom. Guide our steps to cross paths with those wandering. Anoint our words as we share the Good News. May the harvest be abundant.
And, Father God, if you grant us tomorrow, let’s repeat.
Humbly praying in the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Stepping into the light and living in the Truth (verse 20) stops many of us because it requires inward reflection on our broken lives. We are afraid of what we might see or what others see in us . I chose to hide in the dark before Christ had mercy on me and I stepped into the light.
I pray now that I have the courage to shine that light onto someone that is still in the dark
I pray that others see the light of Jesus through me.
(Vs. 30) HE MUST BECOME GREATER; I must become less.
Because “He must become greater; I must become less,” more than my opinion, today I will share my hope in Jesus with everyone that comes to me in need because he is the light, in a world that loves darkness and hates the light.
Because he becomes greater then I must become less.
Jesus is light of the world. What a beautiful message. My prayer is that the Lord’s light continues to shine through us so more can come to him.
“But, if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of His Son Jesus cleanses us of all sin.” 1 John 1:7
I placed my my in Him! I must decrease allow Him to increase in my life. That result in itself speaks and will speak volumes to those around me and I will want to share with them the hope I have in Christ. I am finding it is in His timing and starts in my home my family.
I placed my trust in Him! I must decrease allow Him to increase in my life. That result in itself speaks and will speak volumes to those around me and I will want to share with them the hope I have in Christ. I am finding it is in His timing and starts in my home my family.
John 3:36 is the Ultimate 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.”
Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me out of darkness into the light of life through Jesus. Empower me through your Holy Spirit to be a light to my family and people you put in my path.
I am currently in a dark time and can’t see the light. But I’m searching and seeking everyday too. My Physical & Mental health is weighing on me Heavy & I am greatful for my CF Family♥️🙏🏽
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Lord, help me to share my light with others. For me it feels like the whole world should understand ,but it is hard for the ones closest to you to understand.
Being born AGAIN is a miraculous spiritual birth, not by flesh & blood of a human parent but by the BLOOD of JESUS. GOD so LOVED the world that HE gave HIS ALL to be able to reconnect w/us & that we might have eternal life. We just celebrated HIS GIFT to us on Dec. 25th. John was content with his role as the forerunner of JESUS; “HE must increase, but I must decrease.” are we? JESUS must be the HEAD, & as the body of CHRIST, we must follow walking in the LIGHT, & never go back to darkness. HE is LORD & SAVIOR of my life.
Praying for daily opportunities to share HIS light within ME!🙏
John 3 16 is one of my favorite verses and also I was born on 3 16 so I find it ironic that I like that verse so much. It is a powerful message in that verse and I love what Jesus did for everyone even though he didnt know everyone. I try to do what I can for strangers I encounter BC thats what Jesus did and I want to be like him I want my image to be more like him in all that I do. I want to be a light for someone who is in darkness. I pray that this new year I can be more like Christ and share my light with others I come across that might be in darkness. Lord help me be more like u and help others come to know u BC our world is not a great place and we need more to know who u are so we all can be rescued by u soon. Im ready to meet u and be at my forever home. Amen
Question: I am reading an NIV/Zondervan publication/Red Letter. I am very familiar with ESV, which I prefer personally. However, in reading my NIV I realized that John 3:16 is NOT in Red Letter and it begs the question “Why”? I’ve always thought John 3:16 are the words of Jesus. Why did Zondervan choose not to red letter John 3:16?
I realize also that there are various translations, publications, etc. of the Bible. The truth of God’s Word is what binds us to that important fact.
Lord Jesus, bring people our way to share the good news of Jesus Christ! Thank you Jesus for giving us the Light that never fades away!
I see Who is Jesus and I am going to reference to Luke 2 or rather this past Christmas. The Star of Bethlehem is who was born in City of David in best explanation of Luke 2.
Let Jesús shine in our lives instead of us shinning.
I always want to be aware that some of the people I encounter every day do not know about Jesus. I pray that they will see Jesus in me
As John said, that he is a forerunner, sent to prepare the way for the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ourselves have a role to play in the plan of salvation and the second coming of our Lord. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will help us to know our role and to act in it as we await His second coming.