John 3:1 Thru 17

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3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Note
Little is known of Nicodemus, since John was the only Gospel writer to mention him. By comparing John 3:1 with 7:50-51, we can see that Nicodemus was a Pharisee (see note 2 at Matthew 3:7) and a member of the religious governing body of the Jews known as the Sanhedrin. He was also rich, as we can see from the costly spices he brought to anoint the body of Jesus for burial

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.

Note
What convinced Nicodemus that Jesus was of God? It was the miracles that Jesus performed. It wasn’t Jesus’ teaching or preaching but His miracles. Jesus Himself said the works He did bore witness to who He was (John 5:36; 10:25, and 37-38). God validated Jesus’ ministry by signs and miracles (Hebrews 2:2-4). How arrogant on our part today to think that we can impact our world with less demonstration of God’s power than Jesus had. If all ministers of the Gospel operated in the power of the Holy Spirit as Jesus did and as He told us we can do (John 14:12), then we would get the results that Jesus got.

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Note
The new birth is essential for entering into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, this is not a second physical birth but rather a spiritual birth. Our spiritual man became dead unto (separated from) God through sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 7:9, 11; Ephesians 2:1, and 5). Just as we didn’t accomplish our physical births, we cannot produce this spiritual rebirth. We are totally incapable of saving ourselves (Jeremiah 13:23; Romans 3:10-12, 8:7-8; and Ephesians 2:3); therefore, we need a Savior (Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:4, and 6). We simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and we are saved (Acts 16:31). Faith is the only condition (Romans 3:28 and 10:6-9). Faith alone saves; however, saving faith is never alone. As stated in James 2:17-18, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone...shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” Salvation is not a reformation but rather a regeneration, a new birth, a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), that can only be accomplished by a creative miracle of the Holy Spirit

4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?

Note
This is such an obvious misunderstanding of what Jesus was saying that Nicodemus should have known there was some other interpretation. But such is the state of sinful man. Without the quickening power of the Holy Spirit upon our minds, we cannot discern spiritual truth

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Note
Being born of water is not speaking of water baptism as being essential for salvation. People were born again before they were baptized in water (John 20:28 with Romans 10:9). Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water (Acts 10:44-48), as evidenced by the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:45) whom Jesus said the world (lost) could not receive (John 14:17). When Peter defended his visit to Cornelius before the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:1-18), he was trying to prove to the Jewish believers that God had granted salvation to the Gentiles also. He used the fact that they had received the Holy Spirit as proof of their new birth, but he didn’t mention water baptism. If the early church had used water baptism to produce salvation, Peter certainly would have been questioned about this.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Note
Those who only experience natural birth are limited to only perceiving natural things. Those who receive the spiritual birth are able to comprehend spiritual things.
Also, flesh is flesh and spirit is spirit. This is another way of saying that there is a separation between the two. We have to perceive spiritual things by the Spirit, not the flesh.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.

Note
The Greek word used for “again” in John 3:3 and this verse is “ANOTHEN,” and it is used only thirteen times in the New Testament. These two instances are the only times it is rendered “again.” This same word is translated “from above” five times, with two of those times being here in John’s Gospel

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Note
The spirit realm was as real to Jesus as the wind was to natural man. The spirit realm is real just like the wind is real. We can’t see the wind, but we can see the effects of the wind. Likewise, we can’t see into the spirit world, but we can see the effects of the spirit world all around us. Those who don’t believe that spiritual things exist are as blind as those who don’t believe there is wind because they can’t see it.

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?

Note
Nicodemus was just like most people today who don’t believe anything exists that they can’t see, taste, hear, smell, or feel. There are none so blind as those who only see with their eyes and don’t see with their hearts. The Lord has given us spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear things that we can’t perceive with our five natural senses.

10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

Note
The new birth was not a reality until Jesus had risen from the dead. This is evident by the fact that Jesus was the first begotten from the dead (Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 12:23, and Revelation 1:5). He was quickened, or made alive, by the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18) and became the first born again, or first begotten from the dead.
However, the new birth was prophesied in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:25-27), and as a master of Israel, Nicodemus should have understood what Jesus was speaking of.

11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.

Note
Who is the “we” Jesus was speaking of? Some commentators think Jesus was including His disciples. I doubt that. For one thing, this was the very beginning of His ministry. Even at the end of His earthly ministry, His disciples still hadn’t got it. They didn’t have a clue. So, I suspect this was in reference to His Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was doing nothing of Himself (John 8:28). It was His Father living through Him by the power of the Holy Spirit that was testifying of all these things.
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12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Note
Being born again was an earthly thing. It meant to be born from above (see my note at John 3:7), but it can only be experienced by people who are alive on this earth. Therefore, if Nicodemus didn’t understand things pertaining to this natural life, how could he ever comprehend things pertaining to the unseen afterlife?

13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

Note
There are Old Testament examples of people who were caught up into heaven but didn’t return to tell of what they saw (Genesis 5:21-24 and 2 Kings 2:11). Jesus wasn’t caught up into heaven until after His resurrection, but He is the only one who came down from heaven (John 6:38) to give revelation of what it is truly like. Others had visions, but Jesus had been there. This is a direct reference to His divinity. He existed as God before His physical incarnation.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Note
The instance Jesus was referring to is recorded in Numbers 21:6-9. Just as Moses lifted up this brazen serpent on a pole and all who looked on it were healed, so Jesus would be lifted up on the cross, and all who look to Him with true faith will be healed of the plague sin brought into their hearts. John 12:32-33 makes it clear this is speaking of the crucifixion of Jesus.

15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Note
Eternal life is more than just living forever. Eternal life is something we can have while we are still alive on earth.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Note
When did God commend this love toward us? As Romans 5:8 says, it was while we were yet sinners. Therefore, God’s love isn’t conditional on our goodness. He doesn’t love us because we are lovely but simply because He is love

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Note
Condemnation is not from Jesus. Romans 8:1 and 34 make it very clear that Jesus is not the condemner. Satan takes the witness of our own consciences (Romans 2:15) and condemns us. He amplifies that witness through the Law (Romans 7:9-11 and 1 Corinthians 15:56). The only way to get clear of a guilty conscience is an application of the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 9:22) and a renewing of our minds that purges our consciences
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