Whosoever Believes
Introduction: John 3:16 is perhaps the most well known of these eleven consecutive verses in John chapter 3, but this study looks at the full series of interconnected thoughts from verses 11 through 21 — the closing comments Jesus made to Nicodemus, with no recorded response. John 3:16 does have strong significance, but it is better understood in context of the full passage.
A — John 3:11 — We Speak What We Know
John 3 “11 Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak what we do know, and testify what we have seen; and you do not accept our testimony.”
Comments: Nicodemus is apparently puzzled by things Jesus has said thus far. From the time the Word became flesh, it has been necessary to understand and accept that Jesus is God who came down from heaven, and is the only source of eternal life for those who place their trust in him by faith. John the Baptist underscores the point Jesus made in verse 11, affirming that he believes Jesus is who he claims to be: “He that cometh from above is above all… what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.”
B — John 3:12 — Earthly and Heavenly Things
John 3 “12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you of heavenly things?”
Comments: Jesus continues to speak more about his own identity as God, having authority to speak the truth. Before proceeding, he cautions Nicodemus to think carefully about the spiritual implications of what Jesus will be saying, because Nicodemus has struggled with what has been revealed to this point. As Jesus continues, Nicodemus — and the reader today — will need to combine the perception of the physical realm gained by the senses, with a faith in the spiritual imparted by God.
C — John 3:13 — He Who Came Down from Heaven
John 3 “13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven.”
Comments: Jesus now plainly states the fact that he has come from heaven, and this is an exclusive event he alone can claim. All created men have their origin on the earth; but Jesus has come from heaven to enter the created world among created mankind, as the only unique man who is also God in flesh. Paul adds: “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.” If Nicodemus was confused by “born again,” he must really start to exercise his faith to accept what Jesus has just told him in verse 12, and to grasp what is next to come.
D — John 3:14–15 — As Moses Lifted Up the Serpent
John 3 “14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Comments: Jesus uses a God-directed earthly event from the history of Israel, and carries the discussion to a future event — himself to be lifted up. Those who look to him in faith will be saved from the sting of eternal death. After many generations, the people of Israel confused the true spiritual significance of the brass serpent, and Hezekiah rightfully destroyed it. Jesus was lifted up on the cross and died, that we might escape eternal death if we accept by faith that his death makes possible our eternal life. Jesus is risen, and alive, and because he lives, we also have eternal life through faith in him!
E — John 3:16–17 — God So Loved the World
John 3 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Comments: Jesus now provides the reason why these events must take place, but human reasoning cannot make sense of this — only the Holy Spirit can open our understanding. God the Son must die in the place of sinful man, and sinful man must then by faith trust that substitution to provide eternal life. The coming of Christ Jesus into the world as the object of our faith means we have no fear of condemnation, but look to him with joy because he has come as a Savior! Romans 8 declares: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
F — John 3:18–20 — Light Has Come into the World
John 3 “18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
Comments: Christ Jesus, our Savior God, came to give us more light that we might come to that light and forsake the darkness which is within us, for he is light and life. This fact about our unchanging God was in the Old Testament, and did not change in the New Testament. John 1 declares: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” And John 8: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
G — John 3:21 — Coming to the Light
John 3 “21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made known, that they are wrought in God.”
Comments: Those who believe God and accept the free gift of salvation are taking action in truth — doing truth — because God speaks only truth. The pure light of Christ then purges all evil deeds from the one saved, leaving to be judged only deeds which were wrought in God for our benefit. Then we have no reason to fear, since God will judge us based on his own righteousness imparted to us through faith in Christ Jesus. As we saw from the account of Nicodemus, he honored Christ Jesus by joining Joseph of Arimathaea to bury the Lord after his death on the cross. It seems that Nicodemus came to the light and responded with action by faith, not with empty words. Should we not do likewise?
Reflections in Prayer
Jesus, my Lord, I was once certainly among those who did not accept your testimony about yourself, or the words of those who spoke about you as the Son of God. I now believe that you came from heaven where you had been with the Father before the creation of the world. You speak only truth about all things of earth and heaven. I am so thankful Jesus, that you came for my salvation, not for my condemnation! And salvation to eternal life not for me alone, but for “WHOSOEVER” will believe. You are light and life, and as long as I stayed away from you, I was still condemned in my sin because of my unbelief. Only by coming to you in faith could I have the light of eternal life. I praise you Lord, because I have now come to you, and I want to continue to come to your light so that you will judge me only based upon those deeds which you work in and through me. Amen.
Published 3 June 2004; first issued 20 January 2004