The Gospel According to Jesus

“After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.””

John 3:2 NLT

‭‭The Apostle John subtly weaves Jesus’ identity throughout his Gospel. John writes with one purpose in mind. He wants you to know who Jesus is so you will believe in Him.

In Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus, a leading Pharisee and gifted teacher, we see much revealed about the identity of Jesus.

First, from Nicodemus:

1. Jesus was a Rabbi, a teacher

2. Jesus was sent by God

3. Jesus performed miraculous signs

4. God was with Jesus

All of that in just one verse, John 3:2.

And then what did Jesus say about Himself?

1. Jesus is the Son of Man

2. Jesus has come down from heaven

“No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.”

John 3:13 NLT

‭‭3. Jesus will be lifted up (the cross)

“And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,”

John 3:14 NLT

‭‭4. Jesus is the way to eternal life

“so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”

John 3:15 NLT

‭‭5. Jesus is the Son of God, God’s One and Only Son

““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 NLT

‭‭6. Jesus was sent by the Father

7. Jesus brings salvation

“God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:17 NLT

‭‭8. Jesus is God’s Light, the Light of the World

“And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.”

John 3:19 NLT

‭‭John 3. Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. A gospel conversation. A complete gospel presentation. John recorded Jesus’ words. He was standing nearby. The other disciples likely were as well. How long did this conversation last? Jesus’ simple gospel message to Nicodemus can be read in less than two minutes. It was so simple, so clear, John could remember and record it decades later. He could also remember and record it because he likely heard Jesus deliver this message over and over, and he along with the other disciples began sharing this message everywhere they were sent.

John 3, chronologically speaking, is the earliest and most complete recording of the gospel message we have from the lips of Jesus. John 3 should thus be the lens through which we view the gospel anytime we’re told Jesus was preaching the Good News. 

John 3. This is the gospel according to Jesus.

NOTE: This blogpost is based on Sonlife’s Knowing Him / A 50 Day Study in the Life of Christ / Day 11