Baptism of John, Baptism in Christ - Week 4

John 3:1-36


Note: The study related to these questions may be found at Catholic Exchange. Please go to their site for the complete material concerning this study. Unless otherwise noted, on scriptural references are from the Revised Standard Version (RSV). Below are my thoughts on the questions presented for the given study (Please see disclaimer at bottom).

Read John 3:1-36

1. In verse 2, John states Nicodemus comes to Jesus "by night." Read the following verses in John's gospel: John 11:9-11, John 9:4 and John 13:30. What is the significance of John remarking that Nicodemus came "by night"?
(a) From the Gospel of John:
We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. (John 9:4)
9: Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10: But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." 11: Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Laz'arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." (John 11:9-11)
26: Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27: Then after the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." 28: Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29: Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast"; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30: So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night. (John 13:26-30)
John often associates night with an absence of light (i.e. an absence of Christ), or with death. This is significant because it illustrates that even Nicodemus was "dead" because he did not have the Light.

2. What does Nicodemus understand Jesus to mean in verse 4?
(a) Nicodemus thinks Jesus is referring to a physical rebirth.

3. Read Genesis 1:2 and John 1:32. What does Jesus really mean by being born again? How does what Jesus means related to the verses in Genesis and John chapter one? What does Jesus promise to those who receive new birth?
(a) From the Book of Genesis:
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2)
From the Gospel of John:
And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. (John 1:32)
Jesus is referring to being born again in the Spirit. In other words, the Sacrament of Baptism. (b) These verses relate to Jesus' meaning in that they both illustrate the Spirit as related to water. One the waters of creation, and the second the waters of baptism. (c) Jesus promises that those who receive a new birth with "see the kingdom of God".

4. In verse 10, Jesus says to Nicodemus, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this." Why do you think Jesus states this?
(a) Jesus is pointing out to Nicodemus that all of his earthly wisdom has still left him unable to answer this question pertaining to salvation.

5. Read Numbers 21:4-9. What do the verses in Numbers have to do with verses 14 and 15 of today's reading? What was the serpent in the wilderness? What happened to those who looked on the serpent? How will Jesus be "lifted up"? What happens to those who look to Him?
(a) From the Book of Numbers:
4: From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient on the way. 5: And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." 6: Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7: And the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8: And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." 9: So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. (Num 21:4-9)
This is one of the richest examples of typology in Scripture. The verses in Numbers are what Jesus is referring to in verses 14 and 15 in John. (b) The serpent in the wilderness, as often depicted in the Bible, is symbolic of Satan. (c) Those who looked on the bronze serpent were cured of the "snake bite" and thus saved from physical death. (d) Jesus will be lifted up on the Cross. (e) They are cured of the original "snake bite", sin, and are saved from eternal death.

6. In verses 16 and 17, why does it say God sent His only Son? What did God send His Son to do? What did God not send His Son to do? What does "perish" mean?
(a) Because "God so loved the world". (b) God sent His Son "that the world might be saved through him". (c) God did not send His Son "to condemn the world". (d) "Perish", in this context, means eternal death.

7. Read Catechism No.1037 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (hereafter CCC). How does what is said here relate to what is said in verses 16-21?
(a) From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want "any to perish, but all to come to repentance":
Father, accept this offering
from your whole family.
Grant us your peace in this life,
save us from final damnation,
and count us among those you have chosen. (CCC, 1037)
This is to explain what is meant by God sending His son to save the world.

8. Read verses 22-24. Now read John 4:1-2. In John chapter four, who is baptizing? Read Catechism Nos.1213-1215. Is the baptism the Evangelist speaks of a sacramental baptism based on what you read from the Catechism?
(a) From the Gospel of John:
1: Now when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2: (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), (John, 4:1-2)
Jesus' disciples are the ones who are baptizing. (b) From the Catechism of Catholic Church:
ARTICLE 1
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."
I. WHAT IS THIS SACRAMENT CALLED?
1214 This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to "plunge" or "immerse"; the "plunge" into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a new creature."
1215 This sacrament is also called "the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit," for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one "can enter the kingdom of God."
The baptism the Evangelist speaks of is definitely a sacramental baptism.

9. What is the source of all gifts we receive, according to the Baptist in verse 27?
(a) According to the Baptist, the source of all gifts we receive is heaven.

10. Read John 2:9-11. How do these verses relate to what is said in verse 29 of today's reading?
(a) From the Gospel of John:
9: When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10: and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11: This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:9-11)
This wedding imagery is to remind one of what Jesus will do for us. Jesus will give us life in the new covenant abundantly. The Baptist sees this, and as such, is overjoyed to have Jesus increase while he decreases.

11. What is necessary for eternal life? Can you believe without obeying the Son? What is the state of those who do not obey the Son?
(a) To believe in the Son. (b) You must obey the Son in order to believe. (c) The state of those who do not obey the Son is to have "wrath of God" rest upon them.

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

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 Alfredo Nevarez
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