Read John 3:13-18. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
13 No 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.
Digging Deeper
Am I sick or am I dying? Am I ignoring my condition or searching for a cure? All of us know that we will die one day, but many of us live as if we are not going to die. Some of us may believe we aren’t even sick at all! Is there something “medically” wrong with me in the inside?
Jesus used a biblical narrative that Nicodemus knew very well. Poisonous snakes bit the Israelites in the Wilderness. The only cure was to look at the bronze snake that was placed on a pole so that the Israelites who looked at it with faith would be healed.
Jesus implied with that analogy that the poisonous snake has bitten Nicodemus. He is dying physically and is spiritually dead. He needs a new spiritual birth. Unless he believes in the Son of Man, whom God will lift up above the ground, he is already dead, but if he believes, he will be given a new spiritual birth and eternal life. Nicodemus didn’t fully understand it until that day when he saw Jesus hanging on the cross between two thieves. Did Nicodemus believed Jesus’ words? I believe he did. He believed that Jesus took the “poison” of Nicodemus’ sins upon Himself on the cross so that he can become spiritually alive.
Did you know that you have been bitten by the poisonous Serpent? The poison of sin is slowly but surely will bring about our physical death and eternal separation from God. God has provided the only cure for sin. Jesus is the only one who took our sins upon His own body. He died so that we can live. If you look to Him believe that He paid for your sin, God says that He will give forgive you of your sins and give you a new spiritual birth that includes eternal life. Will you believe that Jesus died for your sins just as I have believed that He died for my sins?
John 3 says this, “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.”
You can say this prayer from your heart to God, “God, I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” I hope you will.
Kingston