Reflective Reading John
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Liberty University *
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110
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Religion
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Apr 3, 2024
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BIBL 110
R
EFLECTIVE
R
EADING
T
EMPLATE
Reflective Reading Passage: ___
John 3:1-12
___________________
Use this template and the course texts The Inquisitive Christ and Approaching the New Testament to record brief notes for each step of the reflective reading process
. Step One: Prepare
Use this space to understand the key elements of context to your passage. Consulting and citing Approaching the New Testament
, please complete the contextual information according to the information found in the course textbook:
By consulting and citing
Approaching the New Testament, who is the author of this biblical book
(in 2-3 sentences)?
The author of this book is John, the son of Zebedee. He likely wrote from Ephesus.
McClendon, A., & Cartwright, J. B. (2022). Matthew. In Approaching the New Testament: Guide for Students
. essay, B&H Academic. By consulting and citing
Approaching the New Testament
, when was this biblical book written (in 1 sentence)? This book is believed to have been written around 80 AD.
McClendon, A., & Cartwright, J. B. (2022). Matthew. In Approaching the New Testament: Guide for Students
. essay, B&H Academic. By consulting and citing
Approaching the New Testament
, what is the overall theme of the book (in 2-3 sentences)? The theme seems to be that Jesus’ identity is explicitly tied with God. John seems to pick certain miracles to include in his book and repeatedly uses the words ‘Life’ and ‘Believe’.
McClendon, A., & Cartwright, J. B. (2022). Matthew. In Approaching the New Testament: Guide for Students
. essay, B&H Academic. Step Two: Read
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BIBL 110
Utilizing either
a translation of choice or
creating a paraphrase of your own, use this space to re-write the full passage of scripture. Please do not copy and paste from an existing translation, but rather, write out the passage word-by-word in order to slowly reflect on the content.
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no
man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell
you of heavenly things?
Step Three: Reflect
Use this space to answer the following questions. Consult The Inquisitive Christ
for insight into pertinent Gospel texts. If there is dialogue in the passage, who is speaking (in 1 complete sentence)?
Nicodemus is speaking with Jesus in this passage.
What questions are asked in the passage? Please list all
questions located in the passage.
“How can a man be born when he is old?”, “Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”, “How can these things be?”, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”, and “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?”
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BIBL 110
How would you answer each of the questions asked (in at least 3 sentences)?
The first questions are Nicodemus misunderstanding the analogy, we do not climb back into our mothers to come out again, it is more of a spiritual rebirth. The third question is still Nicodemus misunderstanding and the fourth is a rhetorical question. Now if Jesus personally came to me and
asked me the last question, I could answer that one, I have been burned by religion before and have been given many reasons not to trust by words alone. So of course, as a human with varied life experience I may have doubts about what I hear about heaven, but you never know what will
resonate with someone and convince them until you try.
What words or phrases stand out to you, and why? Are any words/themes repeated? If so, share why you think there is repetition. Please answer with at least 3 sentences.
The word ‘born’ is one that always sticks out to me, partly because I have a hard time understanding why Nicodemus was taking this whole lesson so literally instead of as the analogy
it is for spiritual rebirth, but also because of the common phrase “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” Though the phrase is often misquoted as ‘blood is thicker than water’.
What questions do you have as you read this passage? If you have no questions, please explain why this might be the case.
I have always wanted to ask Nicodemus why he was so confused; rebirth has always struck me as a pretty clear analogy but he took it quite literally. For such a supposedly wise man, he comes off as pretty dumb or blind here.
Step Four: Pray
Use this space to formulate a prayer to God, dialoguing with Him about what he may be speaking to you in this passage:
Dear Father in Heaven,
Please help me to be a more trusting and open person, I have spent so long being a doubtful, closed off individual and I have a hard time trusting most things that are taught to me about religion. This passage seems targeted to tell us to believe more and trust more but the inability to do so has always been one of my biggest flaws.
Amen
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BIBL 110
Step Five: Respond
Use this space to contemplate how God may be asking you to respond to this passage in your life
with him:
This passage feels to be a reminder to believe, similar to the passage we did last from Matthew. Jesus asks Nicodemus if he won’t believe what Jesus says about the world, how is Jesus to tell him about heaven and be believed? We tend to be so doubtful of everyone and everything that how can he even try to educate us if he knows we won’t believe him? I think this passage calls us to be less doubtful and mistrusting, to actually try to believe what we are taught in the Bible so that we can be open to learning the truth of heaven as well.
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