Chapter 18
“BILLY, BEFORE I SHARE THE REST of the story, and move to their John 3:5 account, I have a few questions for you.” Fallon spoke with Billy. The room started to get a little light shining through the slats of what she guessed were a set of bamboo blinds. From the position of the window, Fallon guessed they were in a basement. Consequently, she was able to see Billy’s shadow now.
“You still don’t fully trust me, do you?” He sounded disappointed.
Fallon was sorry to make him feel that way, but she refused to lie. “Not really. I want to, but there’s something fishy here and eventually, I’ll figure it out. Until then, at least I’ve been able to share all of John 1 and 2 with you so far.”
He sighed in response. “What are your questions, Fal?”
“Do you understand yet how Jesus was the Word enfleshed and was made alive and real--and was put into action? And, do you understand how He can be both God and the Son?”
“I think so.” He didn’t sound too sure. But, it hit Fallon her question was a little too complicated. “I also understand how He turned water into wine and saved the reputation of a family because of it. I also know how much you believe in Him.”
Her belief didn’t matter at the moment. Billy’s did. “So, do you believe in Him yet?”
“I want to.”
“Good answer. This chapter and what I’m about to share with you will tell you how and what that means precisely.” She gave a teaser for what was to come. “It’s the one chapter I actually have memorized, along with John 15. I learned it years ago.
John 3:5-21 states,
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (NIV).
John 3:36 explained,
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him," (NIV).
ERIN KNEW WHEN JESUS MENTIONED what He did in John 3:5 about the kingdom of God referred to what she would call heaven. They were one in the same. It was also called the kingdom or eternal life.
When she heard with her own ears Jesus say the words from John 3:5-8, she gained even more insight because she could hear His tone, see where He said it, and what words He emphasized. She saw His facial expressions. She was able to hear the passion in His voice as he spoke.
She thought about how what Jesus meant when he declared in John 3:5, “‘I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit,’” (NLT). The last part of the verse would be confusing if not for what He said in verses 6-8.
John 3:6-8
6 Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit.7 Don't be surprised when I tell you, 'You must all be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wants to and you hear the sound of it, but you don't know where the wind comes from or where it is going. It is the same with every person who is born from the Spirit,” (NCV).
Erin was grateful that a great deal of what the Bible ever said explained itself in verses, chapters, and/or books beforehand or afterward. We never have to make an educated guess when it came to the Word of God. He explained everything well enough for us and gives us understanding when we ask it, Erin pondered.
John 3:9-10
9 Nicodemus asked, "How can this happen?"
10 Jesus said, "You are an important teacher in Israel, and you don't understand these things,” (NCV)?
Verses 9 and 10 only proved Erin’s point and made her smile. Who was Nicodemus would be wondered by the reader of the Bible in verse 9. Verse 10 answered the question. Nicodemus was Israel’s teacher.
However, Erin pondered what Jesus said in John 3:8 a little longer:
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit,” (NKJV).
She recognized Jesus emphasized we needed to be reborn of the Spirit in order to enter heaven and have eternal life (John 3:5). Nonetheless, even Jesus acknowledged in John 3:8 how the concept was difficult to prove. We have to proceed with belief through faith. We have to believe through faith it can be done and is real—like the wind and we sure can’t see or prove the wind exists—except for the results of what it leaves behind.
When Nicodemus asked what he did in John 3:9, Erin realized Nicodemus didn’t think about what Jesus said in verse 8. Jesus then made His comments in 3:10-12 in response to John 3:9.
John 3:10-12
10 Jesus said, "You are an important teacher in Israel, and you don't understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we talk about what we know, and we tell about what we have seen, but you don't accept what we tell you. 12 I have told you about things here on earth, and you do not believe me. So you will not believe me if I tell you about things of heaven, (NCV).
Every word and phrase in those three verses were pointed and of the in-your-face variety. Erin couldn’t help but think of the following verses:
Psalm 119:29-32
29 Keep me from the way of deceit,
and graciously give me Your instruction.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set Your ordinances [before me].
31 I cling to Your decrees;
LORD, do not put me to shame.
32 I pursue the way of Your commands,
for You broaden my understanding, (HCSB).
We can all avoid of our problems with understanding the Word if we pray for understanding and stay in His Word to begin with so that we stay in touch with Him and don’t need to get refocused. It’s the refocusing of the mind that often leads us to not fully comprehending something. In other words, when we lose focus and we lose our ability to grasp knowledge of the Word.
By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy
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