Bible Studies
The Resurrection as New Birth into the Kingdom (Jn. 3:1ff)
Series: ResurrectionIntroduction:
1. The four Gospel accounts climax with the resurrection of Christ and the risen Christ’s commission to his disciples to advance the kingdom of God. He promised them His continuing presence and they went everywhere preaching the kingdom of God and the resurrection of the dead. 2. The resurrection and the coming kingdom are prominent themes in the O.T. This we have established in the two previous lessons. 3. And while “resurrection” often refers to the giving of life to a dead body sometimes it is used of giving life to those that are spiritually dead. 4. Scripture sometimes refers to this as “a new creation” (cf. Isa. 65:17; 66:22; Gal. 6:15). 5. In Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus resurrection, new birth (i.e., new creation) is associated with entrance into the Kingdom of God. 6. This is the way the conversation began (Reading of Jn. 1:1-3).Discussion:
I. There are at least three things in these verses that set the context for the discussion.A. Nicodemus is a Pharisee. This defines him as one believing in resurrection (Acts 23:8).
B. Nicodemus is a ruler of the Jews. This defines him as one knowledgeable in the Scriptures. Jesus calls him “the teacher of Israel” (v. 10).
C. Nicodemus, on the evidence of the miraculous signs Jesus performed, regarded Him as “come from God” (v. 2). (As is always the case in Scripture miraculous signs validate the messenger and his message as from God.)
D. Everything that Jesus says to him is founded upon these presuppositions.
1. Belief in resurrection.
2. Knowledge of the Scriptures and by implication respect for them.
3. Faith in Jesus as an authoritative teacher come from God.
II. Jesus’ opening statement introduces the “new creation” concept in association with the kingdom. The discussion then unfolds around this relationship.A. The opening statement: “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
1. The statement is not clear to Nicodemus and he raises the question about entering into his mother’s womb a second time and being born.
2. He does not immediately connect Jesus’ statement to anything said in the O.T.
B. Jesus proceeds: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
1. Ezek 36:25-27 is the only O.T. text prophesying that in the end time water and Spirit would be used to create anew.
2. Ezek. 36 goes back to the time when Israel was idolatrous and when God had scattered them among the nations. Ezekiel 37 pictures her as a valley of dry bones. But God will give her life again.
3. 36:25-27 says that He will “sprinkle clean water on them and cleanse them from their filthiness.” He said, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes.”
4. God said people will say, “This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden” (v. 35). Isaiah had pictured it as rivers flowing in the desert (43:18-21) and spoken of God creating “new heavens and a new earth” (65:17; 66:22).
5. Do you see the “new creation” concepts here?
C. Now Jesus is making it very personal, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
1. This resurrection was not just a nationalistic resurrection.
2. It involved a resurrection of individuals.
D. Nicodemus questions, “How can these things be?” and Jesus questions him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?”
1. These were things that any teacher of Israel should have understood.
2. These were the critical elements to the hope of Israel. This new creation, this new beginning, this regeneration (Matt. 19:28; Titus 3:5), this resurrection was what they were looking for. Cf. Lk. 2:25, 34, 38.
3. The teacher that missed it had missed the whole purpose of the course.
III. Jesus proceeds, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life” (Jn. 3:14-15).A. I am sure that Nicodemus was familiar with Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness. It is recorded in Num. 21.
1. The people were complaining against God and Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water and we loath this miserable food (manna).”
2. The Lord sent serpents among the people and the bit the people and many of them died.
3. They confessed, “We have sinned, intercede for us that he may remove the serpents.”
4. God told Moses to set up a serpent on a standard and those bitten should look on the serpent and live.
5. Note the life/death imagery here.
B. Jesus said, “even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
1. It is pretty much universally recognized that this is a reference to His being “lifted up” on the cross.
2. The phrase is used repeatedly in John (8:28; 12:32-34 (Verse 32 refers to Him being “lifted up from the earth.” Is this a reference to His ascension? Apparently the crowd interpreted this to conflict with their expectation that the Christ would remain forever (v. 34).
3. The phrase may not be limited to the lifting up on the cross, but probably also includes the ideas of his resurrection, ascension and coronation. Note the reference to ascension and decension in Jn. 3:13 and in Acts 2:32-35, esp. 34. Note also the statement in Acts 5:30-31 that refers to God “raising up” Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
4. Beale says, “The ‘lifting up’ of the Son of Man is a double entendre, referring to both Jesus’ lifting up on the cross and his resurrection” (N.T. Biblical Theology, p. 237). But it appears to me to involve the cross, the resurrection, ascension and coronation.
Conclusion:
1. So the question for Nicodemus (and you) is “Do you believe it?” 2. The message is a message of new birth, a new beginning, a resurrection. 3. Individual participation is required. Unless you are born again you cannot enter the kingdom. 4. Unless you believe in the one who is lifted up you cannot have eternal life. 5. John records that Nicodemus along with Joseph of Arimathea cared for the body of Jesus and placed it in a new tomb. I can only imagine what that empty tomb meant for Nicodemus. What does it mean for you? Do you believe that He died and was lifted up? Will you so place your trust in Him as to be born again of water and the Spirit?
