John 3:1–13 (ESV) 3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus 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 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. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind 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 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.
Nicodemus At Night
John 1:9–11(ESV) 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
John 3:2(ESV) “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.”
John 3:3(ESV) “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Born Again/ Born from Above
“One cannot be born ‘Christian’; you must be born again.”
John 3:4-5(ESV) 4...“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.
Water + Spirit 1. Water
Ezekiel 36:24–27 (ESV) 24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
2. Spirit John 3:6-8(ESV) 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind 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.”
“To have eternal life, you need the eternal breath.” 1 Peter 1:23 (ESV) You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.
Born Again/ Regeneration
Titus 3:4–7 (ESV) 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
“Jesus was born of flesh so that we can be born of Spirit.”
1. New Start Hebrews 8:12 (ESV) For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.
2. New Identity
3. New Nature 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Ministry John 3:13-15(ESV) 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man .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.
Come and See Part 5: Jesus Cleans House | (John 2:13–25) Grace + Truth
Grace: The wedding at Cana | Truth: Cleansing the Temple
John 1:14 (ESV) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
“Grace invites us in. Truth cleans us out.”
I. The Confrontation John 2:13–17 (ESV) 13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
A. Passover John 2 John 6 John 11-13
The New Temple ‣ The Bread of Life ‣ The Lamb of God
Purification ‣ Provision ‣ Sacrifice
B. The Problem Throughout the Old Testament, we see a theme of God condemning the religious practice of heartless worship.
“Jesus overturns tables when the system becomes transactional instead of transformational.”
C. The Zeal of Jesus Zechariah 8:2 (NIV) “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.” Proverbs 6:34 (ESV) For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. “His anger is pointed at what hinders worship; His passion is directed towards what he desires.”
II. The conversation John 2:18-23 (ESV) 18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
1. Jesus is saying, “I am the New Temple.” “ Jesus is saying, “I am the new meeting place.”
2. Jesus is acting as the High Priest.
Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV) 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
3. Jesus is pointing to The Final Sacrifice & Victory
Hebrews 10:12–14 (ESV) 12 When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
4. Jesus is reclaiming what is sacred—not a system, but worship itself. John 4:23–24 (ESV) 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
5. Jesus makes us places of Worship 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV) 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Romans 12:1 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
III.The Conclusion John 2:23-25(ESV) 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
Colossians 3:5–6 (ESV) 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
Come and See Part 4: The Wedding and the Wine | John 2:1–11
John 2:1–11 (ESV) 2 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Signs in the First Sign
1. The Third Day “Jesus’ earthly ministry begins and culminates on the third day.””
2. The Wedding
3. The Wine Runs Out The wine runs out
“Faith isn’t believing Jesus can—it’s obeying when He tells you how.”
The sign of the running out of wine represents The Law’s insufficiency.
4. Stone Jars The sign of the jars themselves is The Mosaic System.
John 1:17 (ESV) For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
“Just as the jars were fully filled, so is the law fully filled.”
5. The Wine
“His work, their response- That’s the way the gospel works.”
“Jesus steps in to fulfill the bridegroom’s role—not as his representative, but as the Bridegroom Himself—providing the wine.”
Wine speaks of.... 1. Joy and Celebration Psalm 104:15 (ESV) “…and wine to gladden the heart of man…”
2. Abundance Amos 9:13 (ESV) The mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.
3. Covenant The Wine points to the New Covenant. Genesis 14:18 (ESV) “And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine.
Exodus 24:8 (ESV) Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Luke 22:20 (ESV) “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
“Jesus didn’t use a sacrifice; He became it.”
Galatians 4:4–5 (ESV) 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
John 11:11(ESV) This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
John 20:31 (ESV) These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Ministry: Jeremiah 31:33–34 (ESV) 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
John 1:35–51 (ESV) 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). 43 The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Nathanael Experiencing greater things 1. Purity John 1:47 (ESV) Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” “There he is!”
“You need God to see God.”
“Purity before God is received, not achieved.”
2. Proximity John 1:46(ESV)...Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him John 1:48(ESV)Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” “Under the Fig Tree”
“Nathaniel was closer to Jesus than he thought!”
3. Proclamation John 1:49(ESV) Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
“Pure honesty & proximity to Jesus turn skepticism into revelation.”
7 Revelations of Jesus:
Lamb of God — John the Baptist (John 1:29)
Son of God — John the Baptist(John 1:34)
Rabbi — Andrew and another disciple(John 1:38)
Messiah (Christ)— Andrew(John 1:41)
Jesus of Nazareth — Philip(John 1:45)
King of Israel — Nathanael(John 1:49)
Son of Man — Jesus (John 1:51)
Son of Man 1. Earthly Ministry 2. Imminent Suffering 3. Future Glory
4. The Promise
John 1:50-51(ESV) Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
"Jesus thinned the veil between Heaven and Earth."
“Are you living off one revelation, or following Jesus into a greater reality?”
John 20:31 (ESV) These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
“The gospel doesn’t start with what Christ did, but who He is. And our response isn’t rooted in what we do, but whose we are.”
John the Baptist John 1:6–7 (ESV) 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
John 1:19-32 : Behold the Lamb
John 1:19–32 (ESV) 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
Bearing Witness to the Light 1. Identity: Know who you are
John knew who he was—and who he was not. “Knowing our identity brings confidence as we carry out our assignment.”
2. The Purpose is Preparation Isaiah 40:3–5 (ESV) 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.
“God wills to level everything that hinders access to Him.”
“We lay the groundwork so he can do the heart work.”
3. Point to the Lamb “You are not the point. You are pointing to the point.”
John 1:29 (ESV) “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Hebrews 10:12 (ESV) When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.
Colossians 1:19–20 (ESV) 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
John 1:29 (ESV) “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Revelation 5:12 (ESV) Saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
Why was the Gospel of John written? John 20:30–31 (ESV) 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
“The gospel does not begin with what Jesus did…it begins with who He is.” Come and See | John 1:1-18 : The Prologue John 1:1–5 (ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
“John is not telling us how Jesus started. He’s telling us that Jesus never started.”
Genesis Revisited Genesis 1:1–4 (ESV) 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
John 1 is the Genesis of our story in God. "The Gospel tells us that we, too, were formless, void, and in darkness. As the spoken Word He brought order to chaos and light to the darkness in creation, the new creation, the Living Logos, brings formation, filling the void, so that we will not dwell in darkness any longer.”
The Word/Logos
“Jesus, is what The Father is saying.”
“You have to get Jesus right.”
Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV) 16 ...All things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
John 1:6–8 (ESV) 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
John 1:9-14 (ESV) 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Word Became Flesh “The creator cloths himself with His own creation.”
The Hypostatic Union.- Jesus Christ- one person with two distinct natures— Fully God and fully human, united without confusion, change, division, or separation.
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the Word of his power.
Fully Human= Divine meekness. Philippians 2:6–7 (ESV) 6 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
“If Jesus is not fully God, He cannot reveal God. And if Jesus is not fully human, He cannot redeem humanity.”
John 1:16-18 (ESV)16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Come and See The God Man 1. Encounter The Word Made Flesh.
"The message had a mission—to make God known—and one method—flesh; and wherever that mission unfolds, God is revealed, darkness is confronted, the works of the devil are undone, and what was lost begins to live again."
2. Experience Grace and More Grace
“The law was grace for its time. Jesus is grace for all time.”
“Grace is how God comes to us. The truth is that God sets us free. Jesus is full of both.”
3. Discover your identity John 1:12(ESV) But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
“The Gospel doesn’t start with what Christ did, but who He is. And our response isn’t rooted in what we do, but whose we are.”
"The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God," C.S. Lewis
