This is only one view, and a view of looking into the heart of the persons of John 3. If you prefer a deeper study on this, or just want some thought provoking thoughts..you may want to check out the rest of the group who is doing this study with me. Honestly, they are all hitting home runs! My thoughts are my thoughts, but I will give you a look at them…
Nicodemus…lots can be thought and speculated..but it clearly says that he came at night and was one of the religious rulers. (I am always looking for glimpses of the heart of Jesus/God as I read the Bible) Jesus heart in this is awesome…HE did not say…”Why are you sneaking around without your buddies and now you want to talk to me?” HE didn’t. HE continued to explain things to Nicodemus, even to the point of “Nic your not going understand this” mentality.
John (the Baptist) is always a good study..he stands out to me…as the second cousin to our Lord, and born to a women who was too old in our thinking to have children(God seems to like that kind), while still in his mothers womb he jumped for joy at the voice of Mary carrying Jesus. John’s joy started in the womb when he was close to Jesus in the womb..a very intriguing account. Now in John 3, John claims his joy is complete…
John 3:29 (NIV) The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegrooms voice. That joy is mine, and is now complete.
Revelation 19:7,8 (NIV) Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) {Hebrews 11-By faith we are credited righteousness-belief}
I was stuck here in John as it appears to me that John is prophesying of the prophesy to come of the Bride and Bridegroom mentioned in Revelation. We, the body of Christ, are the bride, are we getting ready? Are we full of joy at the sound of HIS voice? Do we even hear HIS voice? Or Like a Derek Webb song I heard..are we dirty and lovers of lots of things, and plan on throwing on the dress and running down the aisle? It won’t be acceptable. As John said in verse 30 “He must become greater and I must become less.” That still holds true today…we must decrease and HE must increase, we should also be full of joy and anticipating when our joy becomes complete…
** John 3:16 for those who would like to stay in that verse to debate or discuss…my stand is this..For God so loved the world ( not a big hug around the world, not a gigantic group hug),love for all that have been or are presently , or will be standing on this earth til the end of time…all loved, although HE knows who will and who will not choose HIM. HE sent HIS son to die to bridge the gap and to give us an alternative to feeling the wrath of God. The bottom line in all this is to believe, we can not debate with God..HE made a way, and gave us a choice out of HIS love for us…
If you are not a believer in Christ and are wondering what this is all about…then I am asking you to read the book of John, and instead of pulling it apart..look for HIS heart, HIS responses, I promise you if you do, you will love Him too.
(have a good day , have to work but will be back to check on you all after 4 pm eastern time)
ponderings of a princess... 