Blog Detail

What the ‘Earthly’ cannot understand. (Circle the correct answer)
(This speaks of earthly minded, even in the church, from John 3:1-21)

John 3:1-21 (ESV) 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.”

From these verses, what insights can we gain…

Q1. From Vs.1, we find that Nicodemus was…

a/ an ordinary ‘Joseph’.     b/ an important Pharisee.     c/ a sneaky politician.

Q2. From Vs.2, we see also that he came to see Jesus…

a/ in office hours.     b/ in the morning.     c/ at night.

Q3. From Vs.2, we see that he calls Jesus…

a/ Rabbi and a teacher.     b/ a fake and an impostor.     c/ a wizard and a genius.

Q4. Also from Vs.2, we see that he…

a/ asks Jesus to leave town.     b/ acknowledges that Jesus’ authority must be from God.

Now from Vs.3… Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Q5. Here Jesus…

a/ is flattered and praises this leader of His nation.

b/ tells Nicodemus that he needs something if he wishes to see God’s Kingdom.

Reading Vs.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?”

Q6. We see that Nicodemus…

a/ understands what Jesus is saying.     b/ leaves in anger.     c/ asks how the impossible could ever be.

In Vs.5-6, 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.

Q7. From Jesus’ answer, we find that…

a/ He teaches the difference between spiritual understanding and ‘earthly’ understanding.

b/ He is saying that Nicodemus has ‘earthly’ understanding but he needs spiritual understanding.

c/ Both a & b.

Jesus continues in Vs.7-8… 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.”

Q8. When Jesus says, “Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again.”…

a/ He’s saying don’t worry about it.     b/ He’s saying that spiritual birth is an inward invisible process.
(Moving on to page #2 of this quiz…)

We continue reading from Vs.9-12… 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?

Q9. From Vs.9, we see that Nicodemus…

a/ understands completely.     b/ in confusion has lost all interest.     c/ still wants this explained.

Q10. From Vs.10, we see that Jesus…

a/ doesn’t expect religious teachers to understand.     b/ is disappointed that teachers don’t understand.

Q11. In Vs.11-12, why is Jesus accusing the leaders, and Nicodemus of purposeful ignorance?

a/ Because they know of His power to heal and teach on scriptures, and yet they refuse His authority.

b/ Because they continually try to corner Him with trick questions.

c/ Both a & b.

Q12. From Vs.12, fill in the blanks… If I have told you _______ things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you _________ things?

a/ secret – obvious     b/ earthly – heavenly     c/ sacred – worldly

Jesus explains clearly how salvation is provided by God in Vs.13-18… 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.  (16)  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  (17)  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  (18)  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Q13. From Vs.13-15, we are told that Jesus…

a/ came from heaven.     b/ must be lifted up on a pole.     c/ gives salvation to any who believe in Him

d/ All of these above.

Q14. In Vs.16-18, Jesus states that…

a/ Nicodemus and others who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God are already condemned.

b/ Jesus came to save the world not to condemn it.     c/ Both a &b.

Vs.19-21… And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (20) For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. (21) But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Q15. We now know how the religious leaders of that time asked for Jesus to be crucified…

We know that…   a/ they loved truth and light.     b/ they blamed Rome.     c/ they loved darkness.

There is good evidence that truth-seeking Nicodemus did come to believe in Jesus, for he tries to defend Jesus in John 7:50-52, and he brought expensive spices for the burial of Jesus in John 19:38-42.

I pray that God may open all our eyes to also see the TRUTH. …(KK)

(Click here for PDF copy Pg.#1)

(Click here for PDF copy Pg.#2)