The Bible is a great book. It is the greatest book of all time. It is so because it is the word of God. It was written by men whom God inspired. Every word they wrote was breathed out by God. It contains the only infallible revelation about God and the plan of salvation. When the devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread after he had fasted for forty days, he answered the devil by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Every word found in the Bible is great, and as a result, every chapter. But there are some chapters that hold a special place in the hearts and lives of many people. People know and cherish these great chapters.
Chapters were not originally part of the Bible. Chapters and verses came into the Bible much later. They are not part of God’s inspired word, but they help most people read and study the Scriptures. Chapter divisions have been part of the Bible for so long that many people tend to think of the Bible’s content in terms of chapters and verses. This is not necessarily bad, though it can lead to misinterpretation when verses and chapters are taken out of context. People tend to gravitate to their favorite chapters and verses in the Bible because they are so meaningful to them. We want to look at some of these chapters. This will be the first in a series of studies on the great chapters of the Bible. This inaugural study will focus on the chapter that contains the most well-known verse in the whole Bible, John 3:16. We will dive deep into John chapter three, which deserves to be called one of the great chapters of the Bible.
John chapter three is truly a great chapter for more reasons than simply because it contains the best-known verse in the Bible. The chapter contains a great deal of amazing truth. When we study the flow of John three closely, we’ll notice that the chapter can be divided into three parts. The first is Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus (John 3:1-15). The second is God’s love for the world (John 3:16-21). And the third is the overlapping ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist (John 3:22-36).
Jesus’ Dialogue with Nicodemus (John 3:1-25)
The encounter of Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council and a leading Pharisee, with Jesus of Nazareth, the new upstart rabbi and miracle worker, is one of the great stories in the Bible. Jesus was at the Jewish feast of Passover teaching and performing great miracles. People were starting to take notice of him. Nicodemus, one of the religious leaders, came to see Jesus by night to check him out. Nicodemus addresses Jesus as a teacher come from God, because no one could do the great miracles Jesus does unless God were with him. Nicodemus may have been flattering Jesus, or he may have been sincere in his assessment of Jesus. Either way, Nicodemus is saying, “I see who you are.” But Jesus immediately says, in essence, “You don’t see because you can’t see.” What Jesus said to him was, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Being born again gives one the capacity to “see” the kingdom of God.
What is Jesus getting at when he tells this great religious leader that he cannot see the kingdom of God unless he is born again? The word “see” can mean either understand or experience. This is one of the many places in the book of John where we find a double meaning. Jesus means both in this context. Can one really understand the kingdom of God and not experience it? Or, can one really experience the kingdom of God and not understand it? I think it’s clear that the answer to both questions is no! In order to experience and understand the kingdom of God, one must be born again.
Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus was talking about precisely because this great religious leader and teacher had not been born again. He did not realize that Jesus was talking about a spiritual birth, born of God, even though Jesus further explained it to him. “That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit” (John 3:7). Nicodemus could never quite understand his need to be born again. Those who are spiritually blind and spiritually dead can never grasp the essence of and need for spiritual birth. What Nicodemus needs, and all people need, is regeneration. Regeneration is a new spiritual birth by the power of the Holy Spirit. One becomes a new person by a radical transformation in the soul that restores one to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This begins one’s spiritual journey with God.
God’s Love for the World (John 3:16-21)
John 3:16 is the Bible’s best-known and loved verse because it contains so much truth and power. We notice three statements in this amazing verse. First, we see God’s love for the world. The world is a world of unbelieving people who are opposed to God and his ways. This is everyone. This love is deeper than our understanding, but we can experience it through Jesus. The Bible reveals that it is not only that God loves, but that he is love. Second, we see how God expresses his love. God loves the world in this way: he gave his only begotten Son. God’s love is not merely an attitude; it is also an action. God’s love is a giving love. God’s gift is of infinite value. He gave of himself. He gave his only Son. God himself came to rescue us because he loves us. Third, we see the result of God giving us his Son. Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. This is God’s offer of salvation. It is a universal offer. It is offered to all regardless of who they are or what they have done. It is a conditional offer. Salvation is conditioned on faith. One must trust in, rely on, and depend on Jesus for salvation. The consequence of this offer is either eternal life or eternal perishing, depending on faith.
The rest of this section (3:17-21) works out the full dimensions of the gospel. First, we see that God’s intention in sending Jesus into the world was not condemnation but salvation (3:17). Then we see that faith separates those who are saved from those who are condemned (3:18). One condemns oneself by not believing in Jesus. And finally, we see that those who do not believe fear exposure so that they do not come into the light of the gospel (3:19-21). This fear is, at the same time, an arrogant refusal and rejection of God’s love and grace and the lie of the devil. Satan works hard to keep people in the dark. But we can praise God for the riches of his love and grace.
The Ministry of Jesus and John (John 3:22-36)
In the final section of John chapter three, we find the overlapping ministries of Jesus and John happening in the same general vicinity, which leads to a conflict. This final section is actually a story within a story. We can think of this story as having three scenes. In the first scene (3:22-24), we find the overlapping ministries of Jesus. John and Jesus’ disciples were both baptizing in the same vicinity of the Jordan River. This first scene is the setting for the conflict that arises and its resolution in scenes two and three.
The second scene (3:25-30) relates the conflict that arose because more people were going to Jesus and submitting to the baptism of his disciples than to John. This was difficult for John’s disciples, who stayed with him. They were used to large crowds coming to John with all the buzz and excitement of John’s powerful preaching and the many baptisms. When things changed, they went to John and complained. They were probably surprised that John had a mild rebuke for them. John explained his relationship to Jesus in the plan of God. John gave them a universal life truth about God, his plan, and our part in it. “John answered, ‘A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given from heaven’” (3:27). Only what God calls us to and prepares us for can we successfully achieve for his kingdom. All that we seize for ourselves or usurp from another that is not given by God will not be blessed by God. Realization of these two truths frees us from misplaced competition and anxiety about our lives in relation to God.
The third and final scene (3:31-36) is either further explanation by John the Baptist or a summary statement by John the apostle, the writer of the book. Either way, it gives us great insight concerning the spiritual life that comes through the Son of God. Jesus is the one from above, from heaven. John and all people are the ones from the earth. Jesus is above all. He is the Lord of heaven. Few accept the words of Jesus, but those who do certify that God is true. The Father loves the Son and has given him all authority. He is Lord of all! Those who come to the Son in faith receive eternal life. Those who reject the Son have God’s wrath or judgment remaining upon them. These are the most important issues in life.
Conclusion
John chapter three is such a great chapter in the Bible because it goes to the heart of the most important reality in life. It concerns one’s relationship with God. It shows our spiritual helplessness and the love of God. He truly cares about our predicament. It unravels the intractable knot of the meaning of life. But most importantly, John chapter three shows us Jesus in all his humanity and deity, the one who comes as one of us but is so far above us. It is Jesus who loves us and gives himself for us. This chapter has the power of the ages, all wrapped up in thirty-six verses. Take it; read it; study it; meditate on it. It will be of infinite value and blessing to you!