church of Christ in Morley, Leeds.

All welcome.

John 3:1-21.

1&2: Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, came to see Jesus at night. He was a member of the highest religious council/court, yet he called Jesus 'Rabbi', accepted his miracles and that God was with him.

3: Jesus sets the theme: "No-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

We are familiar with the phrase 'born again', but understandably Nicodemus was puzzled. What was Jesus purpose?

5-8: To explain, Jesus contrasts water and Spirit, flesh and spirit. Also wind = spirit.

[Does John recount the miracle of water into wine in 2:1-11 for the same purpose - an analogy of Jesus taking something basic and changing it into something much better?]

We shouldn't feel superior to Nicodemus. See John 16:29-32. How long did it take the chosen disciples to understand?

12: Do we focus on earthly or heavenly things? See also Col 3:1&2.

3:16-18 Jesus explains the gospel in a nutshell. The passage doesn't end at John 3:16!

Man brings condemnation on himself, God, in His love, offers to save us. To accept, we must believe.

19-21: Jesus uses light and darkness (introduced by John in 1:4-9).

Darkness is absence of light. Light overwhelms darkness. But men loved darkness because their deeds were evil. *It's a choice.*

No further mention of Nicodemus here, but you'll find him later in John 7:50&51, and 19:39-42.

I think it's likely that Nicodemus became a believer - do you?