21 Day Bible Reading Challenge
Day 3: John 3 - 21 Day Bible Reading Challenge
Hello again, Everyone. So happy to see your engagement with yesterday's reading! Please know that we read every comment and lift up all your prayer requests during our prayer time. And we are excited about Day 3 with all of you.
In today's Chapter 3, there's one quality of Jesus that stands out above all the others; can you guess what it is? It's love! "For God so loved the world..." is a phrase familiar to many people whether or not they've spent any time in a church. But do you remember the rest of the verse? "...that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This verse is, of course, John 3:16.
This is an incredible promise! As you read through John 3, count the number of times this promise is restated (John 3:15 is a good place to start.) As you do, you'll start to see a bigger picture here: God's not just providing salvation--eternal life--to you and me for no reason. He's providing it because we need it; we're doomed otherwise! And given that we cannot save ourselves, it's up to God to provide it. Jesus is God's provision for eternal life and all you have to do is believe it.
See you tomorrow,
Bryan
PRAYER
Father, as we read through these verses, help us begin to grasp the enormity of your love. Lord, we are so grateful for the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. We pray also for opportunities to share this truth with others. Bring others into our lives--or show us who's already there--who needs to know of Your love and Your salvation.
John 3 English Standard Version (ESV)
You Must Be Born Again
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] 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.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind[e] 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.”
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[f] 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 heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And as Moses 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.[h]
For God So Loved the World
16 “For God so loved the world,[i] 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. 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.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 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.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 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. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[j]
31 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. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 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.
REFLECTION & APPLICATION
Meeting Jesus is a central theme of the Gospel of John. But meeting Jesus is a lot like meeting anyone. An introduction and handshake doesn't mean that we trust our new acquaintance. And Jesus won't settle for being among our acquaintances. That's not why He came. He came to provide eternal life to all who go beyond meeting Him to believing in Him. How would you describe your present relationship with Jesus?
If you want to read ahead, here is a link where you can find the scripture:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+3&version=ESV
We look forward to your comments and questions below!
In today's Chapter 3, there's one quality of Jesus that stands out above all the others; can you guess what it is? It's love! "For God so loved the world..." is a phrase familiar to many people whether or not they've spent any time in a church. But do you remember the rest of the verse? "...that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This verse is, of course, John 3:16.
This is an incredible promise! As you read through John 3, count the number of times this promise is restated (John 3:15 is a good place to start.) As you do, you'll start to see a bigger picture here: God's not just providing salvation--eternal life--to you and me for no reason. He's providing it because we need it; we're doomed otherwise! And given that we cannot save ourselves, it's up to God to provide it. Jesus is God's provision for eternal life and all you have to do is believe it.
See you tomorrow,
Bryan
PRAYER
Father, as we read through these verses, help us begin to grasp the enormity of your love. Lord, we are so grateful for the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. We pray also for opportunities to share this truth with others. Bring others into our lives--or show us who's already there--who needs to know of Your love and Your salvation.
John 3 English Standard Version (ESV)
You Must Be Born Again
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] 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.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind[e] 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.”
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[f] 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 heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And as Moses 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.[h]
For God So Loved the World
16 “For God so loved the world,[i] 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. 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.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 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.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 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. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[j]
31 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. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 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.
REFLECTION & APPLICATION
Meeting Jesus is a central theme of the Gospel of John. But meeting Jesus is a lot like meeting anyone. An introduction and handshake doesn't mean that we trust our new acquaintance. And Jesus won't settle for being among our acquaintances. That's not why He came. He came to provide eternal life to all who go beyond meeting Him to believing in Him. How would you describe your present relationship with Jesus?
If you want to read ahead, here is a link where you can find the scripture:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+3&version=ESV
We look forward to your comments and questions below!
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I'm thankful that I accepted Jesus as my Savior at 17. I have went through many trials and challenges in this life. John 3:16 is one of my favorite verses.
I would describe my relationship with Jesus as committed. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and have intrusted my life to Him. "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39)
I would describe my relationship with Jesus as committed. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and have intrusted my life to Him. "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39)
John 3:16 is my favorite verse in the Bible. I am amazed that God , our holy father sent His only Son, Jesus, down from heaven to offer me the wonderful gift of salvation. And that He died for me offering me eternal life (heaven) as a promise. I'm also amazed at how long it took for me to accept that free gift of salvation. Thank you, Jesus!
God the Father loves us so much. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but live with Him forever. Thank You, Lord, for Your love and saving grace. Amen.