Where did Jesus and His disciples go from Jerusalem then?
What were they doing there?
Where were John and his disciples?
Why were they there?
Who were John’s disciples arguing with? What were they discussing?
Given the context, who are “they” that came to John? What concern did they raise with John?
What was John’s response?
What illustration did John use to compare his relationship to Jesus?
He must –, but I must —
Which verse or verses in the same chapter above does John reflect in his statement in verse 31-32?
How can we affirm (“set to [our] seal”) that God is true?
Who speaks the words of God?
Is there a limit to how much of His Spirit was given to Jesus?
Who has eternal life?

Thought Questions

What themes in the second half of this chapter reflect the first half of the chapter?
Do you think the Jew (or Jews) were seeking a sincere, open discussion with John’s disciples or do you think they were trying to pick at a specific point?
Considering the context, do you think there was a connection between the jealousy of John’s disciples and their recent debate with the Jew?
How do you respond when your religious “enemies” try to debate you on a possibly insignificant point? Do you respond defensively and love to argue to win, or are you seeking to draw them closer to Christ?
What are we in danger of happening if we allow ourselves to get pulled into a debate with people, not for the reason of sharing Christ’s loving character but just for the sake of arguing?
Although they were related and met a few times, John hadn’t really spent that much time with Jesus and didn’t really know Him all that well. How do you think John was able to answer with such similarity to how Jesus had just answered Nicodemus? Was it a coincidence?
Is there anyone in your life that you are willing to say about, “He must increase, but I must decrease?” How about Christ? If so, how are you showing that in your choices?

My prayer is:

that my words and actions will not serve to draw attention to myself, but to Christ;

that I will engage in discussions with others for the sake of pointing them to Christ’s love, not to try to prove myself “right” on a certain point;

that He must increase and I must decrease.

Describe what Nicodemus was.
When did this meeting take place?
What did Nicodemus think Jesus was? What made him think that?
Did Nicodemus actually ask Jesus a question? What response did Jesus give to Nicodemus’ statement?
Apparently, did Nicodemus understand what Jesus was trying to say?
What were the two things Jesus said one should be born of?
Without that birth, what would be the result?
Verse 8: what is the illustration Jesus uses to compare the result of this new birth to?
Did Nicodemus understand yet?
How did Jesus respond to his failure to understand?
According to verse 12, what is the prerequisite for believing the heavenly things Jesus tells us about?
How many people have ascended up to heaven? Except who?
What illustration does Jesus then use to compare him being “lifted up?”
Read Numbers 21:6-9 about the serpent on the pole.
What did God do because he loved the world?
What happens to people who believe in Him?
By logic, what happens to people who don’t believe in Him?
Why did God send his Son into the world?
What did people love more than the light? Why?
What do evildoers fear will happen when they come near the light?
What will be shown when those who do the truth come to the light?

Thought Questions

Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus by night? If you were in his situation, would you have done the same?
Do you think Nicodemus honestly wanted to know more of the truth?
Why did Jesus often use veiled speech? Why did He use so many illustrations?
What is the prerequisite to understanding the teachings of Jesus, even if they are mysterious? Are there any other places in the Bible that support your idea?
How can one be born of “water and the Spirit?”
Jesus uses four different illustrations in this short passage. Think about each one and how to apply them to your understanding of and relationship with God.
Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) ascended to Heaven. What did Jesus mean when He said “no man has ascended up to heaven?” Look at the context, Jesus telling that only He can reveal things from heaven, since He has been there and came down to earth from there for the purpose of revealing “heavenly things.” What does this tell us about how much any other human can tell us about heavenly things? From this passage, does it sound like people ascend to Heaven after they die and return as spirits to guide people who are still living here?
Analyze John 3:16, the verse everyone knows. Why is this such a famous verse? What are the elements that encapsulate Christianity in it?
Jesus contrasts two elements: “everlasting life” and “perish.” Think about the word “perish.” What does that mean? What happens to those who are not saved in the truth?
What does it mean to “believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God?” From the context, we understand that this is a very important issue.
What is “the light?” (This was covered in chapter 1). What does “coming to the light” mean? Think deeply: do you love the light or darkness? How would you feel if you truly came to the light? Would you have things in your life that you wouldn’t want exposed?
If so, how can you become comfortable in the light? If you have been in a dark room and turn on the light, it is uncomfortable for your eyes. You can become comfortable again by either turning off the light, or adjusting to it.
How much do you desire others (whether man or God) to know that your deeds are what God desires?

My prayer is:
To earnestly seek the truth and have the boldness to approach God with my questions;
To desire to be in the light, risking that my sins will be exposed and require forgiveness, rather than staying in the dark.

After the wedding, where did Jesus go for a few days? Who was with him?
Do we know what happened there?
After that, where did they go?
Why? What holiday was it?
What did Jesus find in the temple?
What were the three things that he did to the moneychangers?
Who did Jesus say the Temple belonged to, or was for?
What did that action inspire the disciples to remember?
How did the Jews respond to this action?
What was Jesus’ answer?
How long had the temple taken to be built?
What was Jesus really talking about?
What was one of the long-term results of this statement?
During this Passover feast, what was the reason why many people came to believe him?
Why didn’t Jesus trust (or commit Himself to) them?
Why didn’t He need to have anyone tell Him about them?

Thought Questions

Do you think Jesus was out of place in his actions in the Temple? Why or why not?
What really was the Temple supposed to be? Who did it really belong to?
Of course churches don’t sell animals now; most churches don’t even have gift shops. Are there any other possible applications to what happens in churches today?
How do you think Jesus would feel, and what would He do or say, if He were to go to your church? Why?
Did the disciples understand the prophecies of the Old Testament? What was the result of their learning? Do you understand the prophecies? Considering this situation, do you think it might be an advantage to understand the connection between Biblical prophecies and being able to recognize their fulfillment?
Why do you think Jesus answered the Jews so cryptically? Was the purpose of His response for that situation then, or was He looking ahead to a future time?
Some of Jesus’ statements, as well as a great many others in the Bible, are difficult to understand. Looking at the difference in reaction between the Jews and Jesus’ disciples in this situation, what do you think a prerequisite for understanding some of those difficult statements might be? Can we always understand them right away, or might they be reserved for special times?
Does simply seeing miracles always cause people to believe? How about short-term versus long-term? Did Jesus trust all the people’s initial beliefs?
How does it make you feel to know that Jesus knows what is in you? Is there anything you would rather He not know so much about? Since you can’t change the fact that He knows it, what other choices can you make? What do you want Jesus to see in you?

My prayer is:
that I would know how best to honor God in His house;
that I would be able to know and understand the expanse of prophecies throughout the Bible;
that they would give me faith in Christ and the fulfillment of His word;
that my faith would not be based on signs and miracles but a deeper understanding of God’s character;
that, knowing and remembering that God sees all that is in my life, I would make choices that please Him.