As we journey through the Gospel of John, we continue in our examination of a pivotal conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Today, we'll explore the deadly reality of sin and our desperate need for Christ's remedy.
John 3:14-15 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life."
Have you ever considered that every single person you've ever encountered is infected with the same deadly poison? In the wilderness, the Israelites were being ravaged by venomous snakes. Some likely called for physicians, pharmacists, or therapists - but nothing could be done. The poison was too deadly, and death was inevitable.
Jesus draws a direct parallel between this wilderness story and our spiritual condition. The poison of sin is far deadlier than any serpent's venom. It has infiltrated and infested every part of who we are. We're not kind with some sinfulness - we're radically corrupted by sin.
This is the reality Jesus was trying to communicate to Nicodemus, the most righteous man on earth. "You bring nothing to the table salvifically other than the sin that made my death necessary." That's a shock to the system, isn't it? It's shocking even to those in the church today who like to clean themselves up before coming to God.
Think about what Ecclesiastes 3:15 says: "God will call the past into account." Even if you reform your behavior or turn over a new leaf, God still requires full payment for your past. But sin isn't just the things we do - it's who we are. We're not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners.
This isn't meant to be discouraging - it's meant to drive us to the only remedy: the simple gaze of faith toward the One lifted up on the cross. Jesus tells Nicodemus, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up."
The good news is that no matter how deep the poison has run, salvation is available to all those who what? Look to Jesus in faith.
1. How does understanding the deadliness of sin change your view of your need for Christ?
2. In what ways have you been trying to "heal yourself" rather than looking to Jesus?
3. How might your approach to sharing the gospel change if you truly believed everyone around you was dying from the poison of sin?
Stay dialed in,
Jonny Ardavanis
