Bible Study - Thanksgiving - JESUS, The Gift That On Keeps On Giving - John 3, John 7 and Acts 1 - November 30, 2025

 

Bible Study – Thanksgiving – JESUS, The Gift that Keeps on Giving – John 3, John 7 and Acts 1 – November 30, 2025

Let us consider John 3:16-21:

John 3: ¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him (or her) will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Anyone who believes in him (JESUS) is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it,^[g] so that his deeds may not be exposed. ²¹ But anyone who lives by^[h] the truth comes to the light, so that his (or her)  works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

First, to whom was JESUS speaking?

As we read in John 3:1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

Who was Nicodemus? He was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection, whereas the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. (That is why they were sad-u-see) Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling council of the Jews.

JESUS in HIS conversation with Nicodemus, revealed the great eternal mystery, that a person must be “born again.”

We are all born physically as humans but for any human to live eternally in Heaven, he or she must be born a second time. This second birth is a Spiritual birth.

All humans are born by the union of the human sperm and egg.

The union of the human sperm and the female egg results in a human, who has a human body and spirit.

Consider the human spirit as the egg that must be fertilized by the Holy Spirit, The Divine Sperm, when united results in a person being “born-again” Spiritually. It is this second birth, through faith in JESUS, which makes a person an eternal Son or Daughter of GOD.

We know that after the Passion of JESUS, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilot and asked for the body of JESUS, as recorded in John 19:38-42:

Jesus’s Burial

³⁸ After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so, he came and took his body away. ³⁹ Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds^[j] of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. ⁴² They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

This was a bold move by both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They claimed the body of JESUS and placed HIM in a nearby new tomb and “bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds^[j] of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.”

We know that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were both Pharisees and thus believed in the resurrection of the dead. Joseph of Arimathea requested the body of JESUS. Pilot granted his request. Nicodemus brought seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes to begin the preservation process of JESUS’ physical body, according to the burial custom of the Jews.

The lady followers of JESUS went to the tomb of JESUS early Sunday morning to complete the embalming process on Sunday (our Easter morning) and found an empty tomb.

The female followers of JESUS finding the empty tomb before JESUS’ disciples give us a vital clue to the authenticity of the facts of the resurrection of JESUS. Why? If the resurrection had been concocted someone other the women would have discovered the empty tomb.

JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life upon the cross to pay in full for all sin, but a person has to accept what HE did. Do you believe that JESUS is GOD’S promised Messiah?

The resurrection of JESUS is vital for all who place their faith in HIM. IT IS VITAL TO US TODAY AND IT WAS VITAL TO JESUS’ OWN HALF-BROTHERS, WHICH I FIND INTERESTING ------

Let’s take a side trip back to the half-brothers of JESUS as recorded in John 7:1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want^[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. ² But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, ³ Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. ⁴ No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

But let’s consider the facts after the resurrection of JESUS regarding the half-brothers of JESUS, as recorded in Acts 1: 1 I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach ² until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³ After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit Promised

⁴ While he was^[a] with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Ascension

⁹ After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. ¹¹ They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”

United in Prayer

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴ They all were continually united in prayer,^[b] along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

What a difference the resurrection made in the lives of JESUS’ brothers.

The same is true for all who place their faith in JESUS and experience the miracle of being “born again” and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

In a number of church denominations, you do not hear about being filled with the Holy Spirit or receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

As we approach the second coming of JESUS, I believe we will see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the lives of true believers.

Are you and I open to receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to apply it or them as guided by the Holy Spirit?

Do you know JESUS as your Savior? Is HE your LORD?

If not, now is the time for you to ask JESUS to forgive you for all your sins and ask JESUS to come into your heart. It is not about saying the right words, but it is all about your heart or your innermost being where truth resides. Dear JESUS, I know I am a sinner and I need for YOU to save me from the consequence of all my sins and I ask YOU to forgive me for all I have done wrong and I ask YOU to come into my heart now and redeem me from Hell and make me YOUR child through the miracle of Spiritual Birth.

If you prayed such or similar prayer, then thank JESUS for coming into your heart and making you whole and confirming it with the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Now, as a newborn, you need Spiritual nourishment i.e. tell a fellow believer what you have done, read and study GOD’S Word, The Bible, talk to GOD, which is prayer, ask HIM to lead you to a Bible teaching, believing and practicing body of believers, if you are not already in such a body.

Welcome HOME!!! And to those already home – Blessings!!!

Blessings!!!