(REFLECTIONS ON John 3:1-21)

There are levels to this game is a phrase meaning that something simple may actually go deeper than we initially realize. It is a phrase often used by people that are viewed as more advanced, skilled, experienced, or strategic than others — and we may not even realize how deep it goes.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus often times uses earthly things to describe heavenly truths. Many of the people that He converses with can’t seem to wrap their heads around this shift from earthly to the heavenly. Jesus shows that there are levels to this game.

In today’s Scripture, regarding being “born again,” which is foundational to our Christian faith, what we see as a conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus, makes us consider if we realize how deep Jesus actually goes.

Yes, many Christians know about and this conversation with the Pharisee (Nicodemus) that approaches Jesus by night, but what perhaps we don’t see is that Jesus is talking more than just about heavenly things using earthly examples, reminding us that there are levels to this game, and that we may not even realize how deep it goes.

Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (v.3) Jesus then said, “Truly, truly, I saw to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (v.5)

Both speaking about being born again, not of the flesh, but by water and the Spirit, but the first level being seeing the kingdom of God, and the next level being entering into the kingdom of God.

This leads us to consider if there is a difference between seeing the kingdom of God and entering into the kingdom of God. Yes, we can say that all that enter have seen the kingdom of God, but brothers and sisters, let us consider if all that have seen the kingdom of God, end up entering into the kingdom of God.

Is seeing the kingdom of God,
the same as entering into the kingdom of God?

In verse 12, Jesus said, “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

There are levels to this game! And we may not even realize how deep it goes. Jesus has already told Nicodemus about heavenly things using earthly things, that is being born again. However, if Nicodemus doesn’t believe in being born again, by Jesus’ use of human birth (earthly things), then how will he believe if Jesus tells him about heavenly things, not related to the earthly?

There are levels to this game! And Jesus can go deeper, meaning there is more than just being born again, which can be explained by earthly things, but there are heavenly things, that can’t be explained, but can only be experienced by those that see and enter into the kingdom of God, and that is ETERNAL LIFE.

How deep does this go? It goes to ETERNAL LIFE, which can’t be explained by earthly things, because nothing on earth lasts forever or is eternal. Let this then be our faith journey, to go deeper, because there are levels to this game, and it is only through the faith of Jesus, that we will be able to see, experience, and believe.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: John 3