Hope in the Wilderness Day #4 – John 3:1-21 RBC Youth COVID Devotional

Often when we take time to be in ’s Word, we have so much going through our minds that we are easily distracted. Take a moment right now to write down all of the thoughts in your mind.

Write down one thing you are thankful for this week.

John 3:1–21 (ESV) 1 Now there was a man of the named , a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to by night and said to him, “, 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.” 1) Write down what you know about Pharisees.

2) Why did Nicodemus come at night to talk to Jesus? How do you think he would have found Jesus? Why did Jesus meet with him?

3) From what he says, what do you think Nicodemus is true about Jesus?

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.” 4) Verse 5 is a tough verse to understand. What do you think Jesus means by being born of water and the Spirit? (After you have answered yourself, go to the end of this devotional to find out more info.)

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5) From verses 6-7, flesh means man in our sinful state and Spirit means God. Knowing this, what is Jesus telling Nicodemus about being born again?

6) From verse 3, what is the kingdom of God? Why is being “born again” important to seeing it?

7) From verse 8, can you see the wind? How do you know it is there?

8) From verse 8, can we physically see someone being born again? Jesus is saying the Holy Spirit moves and works, but we cannot see the Holy Spirit, just like we cannot see the wind, but we know it is there. How have you seen the Holy Spirit work in your life?

9) How does the illustration of the wind encourage you regarding the Holy Spirit’s work in your life and in the lives of others?

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 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. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” 10) From verses 9-11, read Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Joel 2:28-29. What do these Old Testament verses say about the Spirit?

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11) Why is it important for the Spirit to give us a new heart instead of just making someone a better version of themselves?

12) Why was Nicodemus blind to the spiritual truths of the Old Testament, which he studied being a Pharisee and teacher of the Law?

13) From verse 14, read Numbers 21:4-9 to understand what Jesus is talking about. a. How does Jesus relate this story to His own life?

b. What does this tell us about how to have eternal life?

For God So Loved the World 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 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. 18 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.” 14) Verse 16 is a really well known verse, but verse 17 is not usually quoted after it. What is so cool about verse 17? Do you think most people believe this? Why or why not?

15) From verse 18, why is in Jesus alone the only way to have eternal life?

16) Go back and read verses 5 and 6. What light to these verses shed on verse 18?

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19 “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. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 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.” 17) From verses 19-21, what did you learn about salvation and who Jesus is?

18) If a light was shone in your life, what would it expose?

19) In light of Jesus’ love for you, what do you need to bring into the light?

**More information on being born of water and the Spirit from verse 5. There are many views on what this passage means. Some of the views include: (1) The “water” refers to our physical, natural birth, and the “Spirit” refers to our spiritual birth or salvation. (2) The “water” refers to the Word of God (Eph. 5:26), highlighting the importance of God’s Word in our lives. (3) The “water” refers to as an essential part of regeneration (i.e., you have to be baptized to be saved). This view contradicts other verses that make it clear that salvation is by faith alone; e.g., John 3:16, 36; Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:5. (4) The “water” is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (:37–39). Basically, both water and spirit mean the same thing, and Jesus is repeating Himself for emphasis. (5) The “water” refers to the repentance ministry of , and the “Spirit” refers to the application by the Holy Spirit of Christ to an individual. The fifth view has been the most widely held historically as well as being the most theological acceptability. John the Baptist had stirred the nation of Israel by his ministry and stress on repentance (Matt. 3:1–6). “Water” would remind Nicodemus of the John the Baptist’s emphasis. So Jesus was saying that Nicodemus, in order to enter the kingdom, needed to turn to Him (repent) in order to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.1

1 This was adapted from: Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 281). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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