Daily Devotions
John
The question of rejecting Jesus
Text: John 3:1-21
THE QUESTION OF REJECTING JESUS
The Gospel that Jesus proclaimed was truly wondrous. He presented a God of love. He was indeed a God of great love who would offer anyone the opportunity to enter into His Kingdom. The provisions made by this great King and God of Love were profound.
He would give His Spirit to the believer so that he could be born again. He would forgive and cleanse him from all unrighteousness. He would bring about redemption through His Son.
All that was needed of an individual was to BELIEVE in Jesus! Was that too much to ask? What reason would a person have to reject God’s gracious offer of salvation in Christ Jesus?
Jesus went on to discuss the possibility that some may reject His Gospel. Candidly He said,
“He who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned;
but he who does not believe is condemned already,
because he has not believed in the Name of the
only begotten Son of God.”
John 3:18
It was necessary for Jesus to broach the subject of rejection. The matter of not believing in Jesus is really a question of rejection. The word “condemned” had to be used, even if it does seem like a very harsh word. Jesus minced no words when He brought up the question of being judged by God one day.
One day, man would stand before God and he would be asked to give an account of his life. He would have to account for his many misdeeds. He would have to account for his sins. He must know in his heart that he would stand condemned because of his sinfulness.
God had provided a special means of escape. He had graciously provided a Saviour in Jesus. Though Jesus was His only begotten Son, nevertheless, He was prepared to let Him die on behalf of sinners!
Obviously, the sinner who rejects God’s offer of His only begotten Son must answer to Him one day. How would he escape condemnation when he rejects the only means of salvation available?
Jesus was the Name through whom salvation may be obtained. If Nicodemus or anybody else would reject Jesus and all His name stood for, then he would be bringing about self-condemnation – for he would be rejecting not just a mere human being, but he would be spurning none other than the Son of God Himself. How would he escape condemnation then?
Nicodemus must carefully consider the message that Jesus was bringing to him. He must not follow the crowd. His fellow Pharisees, by and large, had already rejected Jesus. Should he also reject Jesus, then he must be prepared to face the music before God one day.
A DEEPER LOOK AS TO WHY PEOPLE WOULD REJECT JESUS
Why would people reject Jesus when they had everything to gain through having faith in Him? We could offer many reasons. However, let us consider the reason Jesus surfaced up for Nicodemus.
“And this is the condemnation,
that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.For everyone practising evil hates the light
And does not come to the light,
Lest his deeds are exposed.
John 3:19-20
Jesus was absolutely right in His reading of the human heart. He was that Light that had come into a darkened world. However, there were those who preferred darkness to light. In fact they loved darkness. The simple reason was that “his deeds were evil”.
Those who practise evil will naturally hate the light. If he were to come too close to the Light, then his evil deeds would be exposed. Unless there is great conviction of sin in the heart, the sinner will always refuse to come to the Light.
Did Nicodemus agree with this teaching of Jesus? How could he disagree with what Jesus had said? His logic was so straightforward and penetrating, there was no defence against the truth proclaimed! To reject Jesus was to reject the Light that God had sent into the world. Nicodemus could see all the implications of what Jesus taught! How should he respond?
HE WHO LOVES THE TRUTH WOULD ALSO LOVE THE LIGHT
Jesus once again spoke about those who would believe in Him. With great clarity Jesus spoke to Nicodemus these words,
“But he who does the truth comes to the light,
that his deeds may be clearly seen,
that they have been done in God.”
John 3:21
The person who loves the truth must be sure that he practices the truth he espouses. The Pharisees were not known to be doers of the truth.
How did Nicodemus respond? John did not record a response at this point of time. The contrast was obvious. John, Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael had come to believe in Jesus and to embrace Him as The Messiah. Jesus did not pressure Nicodemus in any way. He only sought to explain the Gospel He espoused as clearly and as fully as possible. Nicodemus must make up his own mind concerning what Jesus taught!