Talk About a Reboot: Discussion Guide

1.30.22
In Person Series
John 3:1-36
Talk About a Reboot

“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3).

OPEN
There is nothing new to the desire to start over, have a fresh start, get a second chance at life. There are
limited times and places where it is possible. But Jesus offered Nicodemus – and others seeking to know
him – the opportunity of being born into an altogether new life. Unlike simply turning over a new leaf or
getting a second chance at something, the offer to “see” (v.3) and “enter” (v.5) the Kingdom of God is to
have a part in establishing God’s sovereign reign over all things in the New Heaven and New Earth.

NEXT
Three times in the flow of the Gospel of John, Jesus reveals both the manner and meaning of his death:
John 3:14-15; 8:28; 12:32. Read each text, give the setting and meaning of Jesus’ words to his immediate
hearers, and explain the meaning for us in each statement.

Jesus used an adverb in the Greek text (ἄνωθεν, anōthen) that can mean either “again” or “from above.”
(Don’t stop reading! This is a “technical” point, but it is also an important one!) From John 3:31, it is clear
that the meaning Jesus and John attach is “from above” (i.e., from heaven, by the Spirit) but Nicodemus
appears to have taken it to mean simply “again.” What is the difference in the two meanings?

We meet Nicodemus three times in the Gospel of John:

John 3:1-15 – Nicodemus is an honest person seeking information.
John 7:50-52 – He is a cautious defender of Jesus’ rights before his peers in the Sanhedrin.
John 19:39 – He appears to be a sympathizer-disciple who is willing to go public with his faith.

Starting at John 3:22, there appears to be some skepticism or jealousy among John’s disciples about the
work of Jesus. How does the understandable human loyalty of John’s followers enter this picture? How
did John react to their protectiveness of him? How do you see the virtue of humility in play here?

John the Baptist’s evaluation of Jesus is followed by the apostle John’s summary comment of v.31 about
the one who has come “from above” (see the point about ἄνωθεν, anōthen above). What is he saying
here? What is he claiming about Jesus that parallels John 1:1-5? Why does John see this as so crucial?

Read verses 21 and 36. They appear to say the same thing – from different perspectives. Do you agree?
How are “living by the truth” and “believing in the Son” equivalent statements?

CLOSING
Nicodemus and John the Baptist make fascinating character studies in the early part of the Gospel of
John. The latter has had Jesus’ identity revealed and confirmed to him, for his special role is that of the
Messiah’s herald (cf. Mark 1:1-11). The former sees and hears, reflects and inquires, weighs and decides.

Please close your study today by reading aloud John 3:16 – perhaps more than once. How does that one
verse relate to Nicodemus? To John the Baptist? To you?