I am sorry that John part 6 didn’t really have much of an intro or closing. To be honest what I had, had been sitting on my desktop for a while and I just wanted to move on.
The Greek manuscripts do not have any paragraph breaks anywhere here, but many scholars agree that this should be the start of a new paragraph. In the last part Christ was explaining to Nicodemus about being born with the spirit. Do not forget that there are two births there are also two deaths, that of the flesh and that of the spirit. The second death does not occur until after the millenium (Day of the Lord) when all those that choose to follow Satan at that time are cast into the lake of fire.
In this part Christ is going to explain HOW our spirits are born.
John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
All Souls come from God and when we leave this flesh body we return to the Father that gave it. This isn’t a new thought either. Take a look at Ecclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes 12:6: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
This isn’t talking about pots it is talking our bodies.
Ecclesiastes 12:7: Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Our bodies are just dust, but our spirits return onto God. This is why Christ told Nicodemus that he should have know these things.
John 3:14: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Christ is like a serpent? What? I thought Satan was the serpent. Don’t worry he is. So what is Christ talking about here? He is referencing Numbers 21:9 Let’s turn there so we follow along. Remember Christ teaches so that everyone can understand if they will take the time to try.
Numbers 21:4: And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
Earlier in this selfsame chapter God had just delivered the Canaanite into their hand. God is providing manna, but they still want to complain about a bit of a walk.
Numbers 21:5: And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
This light bread they loath is the manna and you should know that God gave them manna as a physical example of the word. Remember the prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Spiritually speaking they are loathing God’s word and whenever you do that friends he will make make our Father angry.
Numbers 21:6: And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
The word fiery here isn’t that they spit fireballs or anything. Rather their bites felt like fire.
Numbers 21:7: Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
Here is why Christ brought us here. The people admitted their sin. I am sure that you are all aware that John 3:16 coming up and what that verse says.
Numbers 21:8: And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Here is that lifting up that Christ was talking about.
Numbers 21:9: And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Beheld here makes it seems like anyone that saw this brass serpent thing were ok, but there is more to it than that so lets pull up the word beheld here:
H5027 נבט nâbaṭ naw-bat’
A primitive root; to scan, that is, look intently at; by implication to regard with pleasure, favor or care: – (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.
As you can see it is more than just seeing. It is looking intently, regarding, respect. Just as you can’t just say oh there is Christ I am fine. You need to put a little more into it than that.
So why did God use a serpent here and what is the connection to Christ. For one you must understand that Satan doesn’t do anything unless it is God’s will. Which is why oft times God will call Satan’s army his own army. (See Joel 2 and Revelation 9 if you have questions on this). Looking upon the brass serpent was more of showing them who was power over the serpent. Remember when Moses cast down his staff before Pharaoh and it turned into a serpent and then pharaoh’s’s magicians did the same, but Moses’ rod ate theirs up. Why? Again because God has power over Satan so keep your eyes on the one lifted up and the snake on the ground cannot hurt you.
John 3:15: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Understand the theme here now? Did you think this concept was new that Christ brought it?
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Now does Satan believe in Christ? Certainly he tried to stop him when he was fasting in the desert. The legions of demons called him by name when he was about to cast them out. So then what does this believeth mean? Let’s pull up the word.
G4100 πιστεύω pisteuō pist-yoo’-o
From G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ): – believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
Again it is to have faith in and by implication to entrust. Entrust what? Your spirit of course. Satan does not do that he wants to be in charge. Make sure that you are entrusting your soul to him.
John 3:17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Many religions accept that Christ walked the earth. Many say that he was a great teacher and that he came from God, but they do not accept him as messiah. They do not accept him as Immanuel, God with us. They do not under stand Jesus (Yashusha) mean’s Yahaveh’s savior (God’s savior).
Do you?
John 3:19: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
It is often hard to understand how it is that men would choose evil. We live in an age where we don’t have to look very hard to see evil, but as a child of light it is hard to understand. Or is it? How often do we decide not to cast off things we know are not of God? It is easier to do than you think. Have you ever come from a dark room where your e yes have adjusted and you are comfortable. You may even think you see what is about you then someone turns on a light or opens a window and you flinch and your eyes reject the light.
John 3:20: For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21: But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
And that is true. Our eyes only see blacks and whites in the dark, but the world comes alive with color when you step from the shadows and follow God. It maybe hard at first to adapt to the light your eyes maybe even a bit blurry for a while until you adjust, but they will adjust if you stay in the light.
Remember this if you are new to Christianity. Remember this is if you have been in the light for some time. Remember how hard it is and how blurry things can be for a new person. Be patient and already remember to keep your eyes on Christ and he will NEVER let you down.
