If someone asked us to have a conversation about John 3 without opening our Bible, I think John 3:16 might come to most of our minds, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 is a beautiful theological and spiritual bridge that connects one biblical conversation to another biblical conversation within the third chapter of the Gospel of John. In the beginning of John 3, we find Jesus and Nicodemus, who is a religious leader, having a nighttime conversation. Jesus talks about the importance of being “born again” through the Spirit in order to enter the Kingdom of God, or to experience eternal life. In the second part of John 3, we find John the Baptist having a conversation with his disciples. John confirms Jesus’ divine authority and in verse 30 we see that John understands that in order for Jesus to be given all of the glory “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” This is true for each one of our lives, in order for Jesus to be glorified through our lives, we must allow the Spirit in us to become greater, as our flesh becomes less.
Our passage for today’s devotion are the last six verses of John’s conversation with his disciples, and we see that he is talking about Jesus. As we continue to prepare our hearts to celebrate Pentecost on Sunday, John reminds us that our spiritual transformation begins with our full surrender to the One Who is God, to His Word, and to His Spirit that abides within us…and that is Jesus. On Pentecost Sunday, we will be reminded that God gave the gift of the Holy Spirit through Jesus.
So, let’s ask ourselves again, is there anything within my heart and life that is resisting God’s authority, direction, and refining work? If so, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse those things from us so that our hearts are clean and open as we near Pentecost. Both of the conversations within John 3 remind us of our great need for salvation in Christ Jesus, as our eternal existence comes through believing in Him as the Son of God, and surrendering our full selves and hearts over to the Holy Spirit so He may transform us as we have been born again and baptized into a new life with Jesus.
John 3:31-36 (NLT)
31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your Son, Jesus, so that we may have eternal life through Him. Holy Spirit, please continue to guide us as we want our hearts to be prepared to celebrate Pentecost on Sunday. We know that our hearts must surrender to Your authority, direction, and refining work within our lives, and we desperately need Your help. We want You, Jesus, to increase within our lives so that our flesh may decrease. So, cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, and draw us closer to You, Jesus, as we want You to be glorified as we seek to draw others closer to You. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.