The Gospels Part 03
At the Passover In Jerusalem
to
The night time conversation
with Nicodemus
What Scripture say is so – is so !!
We are not free to ignore it or change it.
There is much detail that Scripture does not elaborate upon.
-- They are left ‘vacant’ since they are not necessary to the story, point
or principle that God is communicating to us.
-- The ‘missing’ detail can often be useful to our understanding of the
times, and customs of what Scripture says and can be ascertained
using historical information and good use of logic and God directed
common sense to fill in those details.
We are free to do this so long as:
• We do not obscure God’s message contained in what He has
revealed to us in Scripture.
• We do not alter, revise, or explain away what Scripture does say
in order to fit our “theory” into God’s account.
• We recognize that anything and everything other than what
Scripture actually reveals is only a possibility no matter how
‘probable’ it seems to be.
2
21
John 2:13 – Jerusalem, Judea At Passover,
Jesus Drives the Traders Out of the Temple
13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went
up to Jerusalem,
John's gospel was written well after the others to a Greek
audience.
John's gospel was written to reveal Jesus deity, not detail
events in His life.
John’s intent was not only to reveal to the Greek's who
Jesus was, but
to explain the Jewish tradition Jesus encountered and
to fill in gaps left by the other Gospel writers.
3
21
John 2:13 – Jerusalem, Judea At Passover,
Jesus Drives the Traders Out of the Temple
13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem,
John's Gospel has Jesus in Jerusalem repeatedly.
The other Gospels only once.
This is not a contradiction but a relating of different parts of
Jesus life and ministry.
The Passover was the greatest of all Jewish feasts.
Every male within 15 miles of Jerusalem was obligated to
attend at Jerusalem.
Every Jew from around the world desired to at least once
attend Passover in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem was an extremely busy town during Passover
accommodating up to 2.25 million people during the feast.
4
21
John 2:14 – Traders in the Temple
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and
sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
Every Jew over 19 had to pay the Temple tax.
It was this tax that financed the day to day operation and
business of the Temple.
The tax was one half shekel which at that time was almost 2
days wages.
5
21
John 2:14 – Traders in the Temple
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep
and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
For ordinary business almost any coin was valid but for the Temple
tax only or Temple shekels could be used.
In the outer court of the temple, money exchange booths had been
set up.
The money changers charged a ma'ah (about 4-6 ma'ah = 1/2
shekel) for each 1/2 shekel exchanged
They charged another ma'ah for each 1/2 shekel of change
they had to give back if the coin they exchanged was larger
than the exact amount needed
6
If a man came with a coin worth two shekels, he was charged
another half shekel to give him his Temple coins and his change.
His costs doubled to a full shekel, nearly one weeks wages.
21
John 2:14 – Traders in the Temple
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep
and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
By law each family had to present a sacrifice at Passover.
It was to be perfect, unblemished.
The Temple authority had appointed inspectors (mumcheh) to
examine each animal brought to the Temple.
The inspection fee was again about one ma'ah.
If you had not purchased your sacrificial animal within the Temple
grounds it was almost always rejected, perfect or not.
If you had bought within the Temple grounds it was almost
always approved, perfect or not.
7
21
John 2:14 – Traders in the Temple
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and
doves, and the changers of money sitting:
A pair of doves (poor man's sacrifice) cost about 1/2 shekel outside.
Inside they cost from 15 to 20 shekels (one months wage).
1/2 shekel = 1½-2 days wages.
Off temple
Doves 1.5-2 days wages
On temple
1-2 months wages
All this activity was licensed and supported by the Temple
authorities (which helps explain why there were no poor
authorities).
They received a cut and kick back on all these activities.
8
When Crassus took Jerusalem in 54 BC, he took over $4,000,000
from the Temple treasury - he couldn't carry off any more.
At that point he had barely dented the treasury.
John 2:15-16 Jesus takes the upper hand
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove
them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and
poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things
hence; make not my Father's house an house of
merchandise.
Jesus words are given a little differently in the Gospels
Jesus was angry and acted to correct the situation.
The court of the Gentiles (the outer most had been turned into an
outdoor market).
Any Gentile wishing to pray could only do so in the Court of the
Gentiles, now he could not even pray there.
No one could with all the noise and activity.
9
God's wrath will always be express toward those who make it
difficult for others to come to God.
21
Title
10
Court of the Gentiles
Court of Women
Court of the Israelites
Court of the Priests
Temple and Holy of Holies
21
John 2:17 The disciples remember…
17 And his disciples remembered that it was written,
The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
His disciples remembered what it was written …
Psa 69:9 For zeal for Your house has consumed me,
And the reproaches of those who reproach You
have fallen on me.
11
21
John 2:18 Who do you think you are ?
18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What
sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest
these things?
The Jews asked him by what authority he presumes to act
for God.
His action was recognized by them as being the act of
the one who is from God, Messiah.
If he claimed to be from God they would arrest him
for heresy.
If he did not claim God's authority, he would be
arrested for vandalism and desecrating the Temple.
12
21
John 2:19 If you quote me, get it right.
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this
temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Jesus never said he was going to destroy the Temple.
His claim was you destroy this temple and I will build up a
temple not made with hands in 3 days.
Mark 14:58
3 days = the time in the grave before the resurrection and
the time Jonah spent in the belly of the great fish
Jesus was saying the Temple and its trappings were irrelevant.
God is not approached nor confined to any place or ritual
that man develops.
13
21
John 2:20 Can’t see past what I’m
looking at …
[20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this
temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three
days?
Herod's temple, the one in existence at the time, was begun
in 19 B.C.,
It was 64 B.C. before it was completed.
It was destroyed around 70 B.C. when the Roman General
Titus leveled Jerusalem.
14
21
John 2:21-22 The disciples remember, again …
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples
remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the
scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
The disciples recalled the O.T. prophesies concerning Messiah as they
related to Jesus life, death and resurrection but not until after Jesus had
risen from the dead and the Holy Spirit had come upon them to abide in
them.
John 12:16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when
Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about
Him and that they had done these things to Him.
John 16:4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you
may remember that I told you of them. "And these things I did not say to you at
the beginning, because I was with you.
15
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My
name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things
that I said to you.
21
John 2:23-25
Many believed in His name observing His signs
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast
day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles
which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them,
because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should
testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Jesus did not openly declare himself to be Messiah because he did
not want an emotional or political response from men.
He wanted men to follow Him because they knew and accepted
the challenges that accompanied such a decision.
The decision to follow Christ must recognize the cost involved.
Miracle is Gk: teras - a marvelous thing. It is Gk: dumamis - power.
It is Gk: semeion - a sign.
16
Miracles were intended to reveal something about the nature and
character of God to mankind.
22
JN 3.1-3.21
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
This chapter may be divided into three sections:
• Joh 3:1 - Nicodemus is introduced;
• Joh 3:2-10, Nicodemus asks 3 questions and receives
3 answers; and
• Joh 3:11-21, dialogue becomes a discourse
— Nicodemus becomes a silent listener to the words
of Jesus
The discussion of “earthly things” is replaced by
Jesus teaching concerning “heavenly things.”
17
John 3:1-4
KJV
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
2 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.
3 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.
4 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?
18
John 3:5-8
KJV
5 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again.
8 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.
19
John 3:9-12
KJV
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these
things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of
Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know,
and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our
witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how
shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
20
John 3:13-18
KJV
21
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came
down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in
heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even
so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have life eternal.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:19-21
KJV
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his
deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in
God.
22
22
JN 3.1-3.21
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
The Son of God reveals himself to ever widening circles.
• In Joh. 2:23-3:21 (especially Joh 2:23 and Joh 3:21) Jesus
makes himself known to the people who are present in
Jerusalem on and after the Passover Feast.
• For the most part we see Jesus surrounded by the ordinary
people, but here we see him in contact with Nicodemus one
of the aristocracy of Jerusalem, an influential religious
leader. Joh 3:1-21
• In Joh 3:22-36 he becomes known to the inhabitants of the
country-region of Judea.
23
Joh 3:1-21 is an illustration of Christ's penetrating insight into
the secrets of the human soul,
an insight to which reference was made in Joh 2:24-25.
John 3:1 Nicodemus
[For those of you who are keeping track of such things, John Chapter 3 is the onethousandth (1,000th) chapter of the Bible.]
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
One night, while the Lord was carrying on his work in Jerusalem,
he received a visitor.
A Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews
Nicodemus = Greek name meaning: “victor over the people”
Nike, rule, victory; demos, people.
[Rev 2:6-15; nicolaitans ruled over the laity.]
24
Beginning with the period of the Maccabean rulers who followed
Simon, the Jews adopted and intermingled Greek personal
names along with their Hebrew names.
We do not know Nicodemus Hebrew name…
John 3:1 Nicodemus
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
Nicodemus was a Jew who belonged to the party of the
Pharisees and he was a ruler (archon) of the Jews.
Archon (ruler) suggests a member of the Sanhedrin, but not
one of the chief priests (archiereus).
25
The Sanhedrin was a court of seventy members and was the
supreme court of the Jews.
Of course under the Romans its powers were more limited
than once they had been; but they were still extensive.
The Sanhedrin still had religious jurisdiction over every Jew in
the world and one of its duties was to examine and deal
with anyone suspected of being a false prophet.
John 3:1 Nicodemus
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews:
Nicodemus financial standing would seem to be implied in
John 19:39.
When Jesus died Nicodemus brought for his body "a mixture
of myrrh and aloes about an hundred pound weight"
Only a wealthy man could have brought that.
The Talmud records Nicodemus as one of the four richest
men in Jerusalem and a disciple of Jesus.
26
John 3:1 Nicodemus
27
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of
the Jews:
Speculations
Hoskyns records that Nicodemus was a member of the aristocratic family
that had furnished the Hasmoneaean king, Aristobulus II, with his
ambassador to Pompey in 63 BC.
In 63 B.C. the Romans and the Jews were at war.
Aristobulus, the Jewish leader, sent a certain Nicodemus as his
ambassador to Pompey, the Roman Emperor.
This may have been an ancestor of our Nicodemus
In the last days of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the man who negotiated the
surrender of the garrison prior to the final destruction of the city was a
certain Gorion, who was the son either of Nicomedes or Nicodemus.
Talmudic references link him to Nicodemus ben Gorion, brother to
historian Josephus, a very wealthy member of the Sanhedrin in the first
century.
He lost his wealth and position later; a reversal due to his becoming a
Christian?
John 3:1 Pharisees
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
Nicodemus was a Pharisee.
Their entire religious hope rested upon their lineage, a physical
descent from Abraham.
The emphasis of this racial heritage is contrasted with the “new
birth” in John 3.
The Lord denounced them again and again for their exhibitionism
and holier-than-thou attitude
Ma 5:20; Mt 16:6, Mt 16:11-12; Mt 23:1-39: Lu 18:9-14
Too often outward conformity to the law was considered by
the Pharisees to be the goal of one's existence.
28
John 3:1 Pharisees
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
Often they honored the oral law was honored more highly than the
written law which they claimed could be traced through the men of
the great synagogue, the prophets, the elders, and Joshua, back to
Moses and thus to God himself.
As with any oral law – it’s application and meaning tended to
change with time and circumstances.
29
Still in some ways the Pharisees were among the best people in the
whole country.
The Pharisees were right in many points of doctrine
— the divine decree,
— Man's moral accountability and
— Man’s immortality,
— the resurrection of the body,
— the existence of spirits,
— rewards and punishments in the future life
John 3:1 Pharisees
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews:
The Pharisees were known as a "chaburah" or "brotherhood"
They entered into this brotherhood by taking a pledge in
front of three witnesses that they would spend all their lives
observing every detail of the scribal law.
There were never more than 6,000 of them;
Among the Pharisees were men of high reputation
— Gamaliel, — Paul, — Josephus
30
John 3:1 Law / Religion / Rules
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
Their basic and very tragic error was that they externalized religion.
To the Jew the Law was the most sacred thing in all the world.
The Law The Torah) was the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
They believed it to be the perfect word of God.
To add one word to it or to take one word away from it
was a deadly sin.
If the Law is the perfect and complete word of God,
that must mean that it contained everything a man need know for
the living of a good life,
if not explicitly, then implicitly.
31
If it was not there in explicit words, it must be possible to deduce it.
John 3:1 Law / Religion / Rules
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler
of the Jews:
God’s written Law became a compilation of great, wide, noble
principles from which a man had to work out detailed rules for himself.
They said: "The Law is complete; it contains everything necessary
for the living of a good life; therefore in the Law there must be a
regulation to govern every possible incident in every possible
moment for every possible man."
They set out to extract from the great principles of the law an infinite
number of minute rules and regulations to govern every conceivable
situation in life.
They changed God’s great principles into a man made legalism of
by-laws and regulations.
They elevated their rules above the principles God had given them.
Forget the principles, Follow the rules
32
John 3:1 TALMUD / MISHNAH
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler
of the Jews:
2,000+ scholars / rabbis worked from A.D. 250 AD - 500 AD. to
understand the meaning of God's word for their particular situation.
Out of these efforts they produced the TALMUD (Hb: "study" or
"learning“)
A library of Jewish wisdom, philosophy, history, legend,
astronomy, dietary laws, scientific debates, medicine, and
mathematics.
The Talmud is made up of interpretation and commentary of the Mosaic
and rabbinic law contained in the MISHNAH,
Mishnah: an exhaustive collection of laws and guidelines for
observing the law of Moses.
33
As a guide to following the law, the Talmud also serves as a basis for
spiritual formation.
John 3:1 Law / Religion / Rules
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
A good example of what they did is in the “Sabbath laws”.
God’s Word tells us that we must remember the Sabbath day to
keep it holy and that on that day no work must be done, either by
a man or by his servants or his animals.
The Jews spent hour after hour and generation after generation
defining what work is and listing the things that may and may not be
done on the Sabbath day.
The Mishnah section on the Sabbath extends to 24 chapters.
The Talmud is the explanatory commentary on the Mishnah,
In the Jerusalem Talmud the section explaining the Sabbath
law runs to 64 ½ columns; and
In the Babylonian Talmud it runs to 156 double folio pages.
34
John 3:1 eg: The Sabbath
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews:
To tie a knot on the Sabbath was to work; but a knot had to be
defined.
"The following are the knots the making of which renders a
man guilty; the knot of camel drivers and that of sailors;
and as one is guilty by reason of tying them, so also of
untying them."
On the other hand knots which could be tied or untied with
one hand were quite legal.
Further, "a woman may tie up a slit in her shift and the
strings of her cap and those of her girdle, the straps of
shoes or sandals, of skins of wine and oil.”
35
John 3:1 eg: The Sabbath
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews:
Suppose a man wished to let down a bucket into a well to draw
water on the Sabbath day.
He could not tie a rope to it, for a knot on a rope was illegal
on the Sabbath;
but he could tie it to a woman's girdle and let it down, for
a knot in a girdle was quite legal.
To the scribes and Pharisees this was a matter of life and
death;
that was religion;
that to them was pleasing and serving God.
36
John 3:1 eg: The Sabbath
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
"Remain every man of you in his place; let no man go out of
his place on the seventh day." Exo.16:29
A Sabbath day's journey was limited by the scribes to 2,000
cubits, that is about 1,000-1,500 yards; just over ½ mile.
But, if a rope was tied across the end of a street, the whole
street became one house and a man could go a 1,000 yards
beyond the end of the street.
Or, if a man deposited enough food for one meal on Friday
evening at any given place, that place technically became his
house and he could go a 1,000 yards beyond it on the
Sabbath day.
37
John 3:1 eg: The Sabbath
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
The rules and regulations and the loopholes to evade them piled
up by the hundreds and thousands.
"Take heed for the sake of your lives
and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day." Jer.17:21-24
38
A burden had to be defined.
It was defined as "food equal in weight to
• a dried fig,
• enough wine for mixing in a goblet,
• milk enough for one swallow,
• honey enough to put upon a wound,
• oil enough to anoint a small member,
• water enough to moisten an eye salve" and
• so on and on.
22
John 3:1 eg: The Sabbath
Their scrupulosity knew no bounds, especially with respect to
the observance of man-made Sabbath laws.
• Some of them held that a woman should not look into a
mirror on the sabbath because she might see a gray hair
and be tempted to pull it out, which would be working!
• One was allowed to swallow vinegar on the sabbath, as a
remedy for a sore throat, but not use it as a gargle.
• An egg laid on the sabbath could be eaten, provided one
intended to kill the hen.
The Pharisees tended to ‘make it up as they went along’ which
laid a tremendous burden on the people.
To this salvation-by-works party Nicodemus belonged.
39
John 3:1 eg: The Sabbath
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
On the Sabbath
Could a woman wear a brooch?
Could a man wear a wooden leg or dentures?
or would it be carrying a burden to do so?
Could a chair or even a child be lifted?
And so on and so on the discussions went and the rules and
regulations where established and the loopholes defined to avoid
them without angering God (who had nothing to do with them).
It was the scribes who worked out these regulations;
it was the Pharisees who dedicated their lives to keeping
them
40
John 3:1 Nicodemus, a Pharisee
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
The name Pharisee means the Separated One;
The Pharisees were those who had separated themselves
from all ordinary life in order to keep every detail of the law of
the scribes.
However misguided, he must be desperately in earnest if he
proposed to undertake obedience to every one of the
thousands of rules.
That is precisely what the goal of the Pharisees was.
41
It is astonishing that a man who regarded goodness in that light
and who had given himself to that kind of life in the conviction
that he was pleasing God should wish to talk to Jesus at all
unless he recognized the futility of his religious convictions
22
John 3.1 Nicodemus, a VIP
Nicodemus occupied a very prominent position, being a ruler
of the Jews.
Joh 3:10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you
the teacher of Israel and do not understand these
things?
Joh 7:47-50 47 The Pharisees then answered them,
…. 50 Nicodemus (he who came to Him before,
being one of them) *said to them,…
Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin,
Nicodemus was also a scribe:
i.e. a professional student, interpreter, and teacher of
the law.
42
22
JN 3.2
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
2 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.
He came to him by night - We do not know why
• It may have been a sign of caution.
Nicodemus quite frankly may not have wished to commit himself by
coming to Jesus by day.
Was he fearful of being criticized by other Sanhedrin members?
This opinion is popular among commentators and may be
correct (Joh 19:38).
But, at the early stage of Christ's ministry, opposition to
Jesus’ teachings could not have been so great as to
produce such fear.
43
22
JN 3.2
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
2 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.
He came to him by night - We do not know why
• The rabbis declared that the best time to study the law was at night
when a man was undisturbed.
Throughout the day Jesus was surrounded by crowds of
people all the time.
Nicodemus may have come to Jesus by night because he
wanted an absolutely private and completely undisturbed time
with Jesus.
44
• Or it was simple practicality - it was just too hot during the day
At night one could converse privately, comfortably.
Of course, that heat did not stop the crowds.
John 3:2
2 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.
Nicodemus came to Jesus for a talk so that somehow in the
darkness of the night he might find light.
Nicodemus had everything:
• He was a Pharisee:
• He was disciplined and respected.
• He was wealthy and from a distinguished family.
• Nicodemus was also a ruler (in the Sanhedrin) and a
teacher
...but despite all of this, he was still “in the dark” before
he met Jesus!
45
Plural verbs: Was Nicodemus possibly representing a faction?
(3:2, plural “you” 7,10,11,12).
John 3:2
2 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.
Nicodemus Progression:
Came by night, John 3:2-10
Defense at Sanhedrin John 7:51-52
Anointed Jesus’ burial John 19:39-42
46
22
JN 3.2
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
And (he) said to him, Rabbi we know that you are a
teacher come from God …
This amounted to saying,
“We — I and other likeminded persons (Jn 2:23; 3:11)
— we know that you are a prophet.”
The reason which Nicodemus assigns for this conviction is
given in these words:
… for no one can do these signs which you do unless
God is with him.
Nicodemus was convinced that Jesus must stand in
very close relation to God to be able to do these signs.
47
John 3:2
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.
“Teacher from God”:
How do you know if a teacher is from God?
2 Cor 11:13, 14; 2 Thes 2:9
Test his teaching: 1 Jn 4:1; Rev 2:2; 1 Thes 5:20-21;
Acts 17:11; 1 Cor 12:3; Gal 1:8-9
By the Word:
Isa 8:20; 2 Jn 10;
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22
John 3:3
3 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 has not asked Jesus any question.
Yet, Jesus answers the question which was buried deeply in the
heart of this Pharisee.
On the basis of Christ's answer we may safely assume that the question
of Nicodemus was very similar to the one found in Mt 19:16.
Like “the rich young ruler,” Nicodemus, a “rich old ruler,” really
wanted to know what good thing he had to do in order to enter the
kingdom of heaven – i.e. to have everlasting life.
50
Jesus never even gave Nicodemus the chance to put into actual words
the question of his inner soul.
Mat 6:8
Mt 9:4 Mt 12:25 Lk 5:22 Lk 6:8 Lk 9:47 Lk 11:17
Ps 139:2; Je 17:10; 1Co 14:24-25; Ep 5:13; Rv 2:23
Rom 8:26
John 3:3
3 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.
The answer which Jesus gives is a mashal.
a paradoxical saying, a veiled and pointed remark,
often in the form of a riddle.
Jesus said, “Unless one is born again ἄνωθεν” anōthen
G509
51
anothen is used 13 times in the New Testament, with four
different meanings.
 “from the top”: Jn 19:23; Mt 27:51; Mk 15:38
Meaning
 “from above”: Jn 3:31; 19:11; Jas 1:17; 3:15,17
 “from the first; from the beginning”: Lk 1:3; Ac 26:5
Translation  “again”: Gal 4:9
22
John 3:3
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Nicodemus was faced with this great difficulty:
How can a man experience another birth in any sense whatever?
What Jesus clearly meant was that in order to see the kingdom of God
it is necessary that a person be born from above;
The Spirit must implant in his heart the life that has its origin not on
earth but in heaven.
Earthly or nationalistic distinctions cannot qualify one for
entrance into this realm.
Any form of outward behavior — evenconduct more precisely
in keeping with the law — is also insufficient.
52
There must be a radical change.
Unless one is born from above he cannot even see the kingdom of
God; he cannot experience and partake of it; nor can he possess
or enjoy it (Lu 2:26; Lu 9:27; Jn 8:51; Ac 2:27; Rv 18:7).
22
John 3:3
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
When Jesus speaks about entering the kingdom of God,
it is equivalent to having ‘everlasting life’ or being saved
(John 3:16-17)
The kingdom of God is the realm of creation in which his rule is
recognized and obeyed and in which his grace prevails.
Before one can see (experience) that kingdom, before one
can have everlasting life in relationship with God in any
sense, one must be born from above.
There is an act of God (whereby a man is born from above) which
must precede any act of man that can be righteous in God’s eyes.
(Joh 1:12.)
53
When a man is ‘born again from above’ he enters the Kingdom of
God here and becomes a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven
John 3:4
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?
New Birth: mandatory, exclusive nature; imperative, divides
mankind.
The two questions:
The possibility of the new birth and
The process of the new birth.
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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22
John 3:4
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Nicodemus asks what seems to be a rhetorical question revealing
that he has failed completely to grasp the meaning of the mashal.
How can a man be born when he is old?
Nicodemus, to show the absurd character of the saying, takes the
most extreme case:
One certainly cannot comprehend the idea that an old man
would actually have to be born all over again!
He cannot again enter into his mother's womb!
The very suggestion seems utterly impossible to him.
55
For another instance of crassly literal interpretation by Jesus
listeners see John 2:19.
Take God literally when the literal sense makes sense but
always take Him seriously even if it does not.
John 3:5-13
Preconceived theological concepts vs. sound exegesis
56
5 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 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.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify
that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye
believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down
from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
John 3:5-13
Preconceived theological concepts vs. sound exegesis
Nicodemus is up against the eternal problem, the problem of the
man who wants to be changed and who cannot change himself.
Unless you turn and become like children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt.18:3). “
57
This phrase born anew from above, the idea of rebirth, runs all
through the New Testament.
 Peter speaks of being born anew by God's great mercy (1 Pet
1:3)
 He talks about being born anew not of perishable seed, but of
imperishable (1 Pet.1:22-23).
 James speaks of God bringing us forth by the word of truth
(Jas.1:18).
 The Letter to Titus speaks of the washing of regeneration
(Tit.3:5).
John 3:5-13
Preconceived theological concepts vs. sound exegesis
Sometimes this same idea is spoken of as a death followed by a
resurrection or a re-creation.
 Paul speaks of the Christian as dying with Christ and then
rising to life anew (Rom.6:1-11).
 He speaks of those who have lately come into the Christian
faith as babes in Christ (1Cor.3:1-2).
 If any man is in Christ it is as if he had been created all over
again (2Cor.5:17).
 In Christ there is a new creation (Gal.6:15).
 The new man is created after God in righteousness
(Eph.4:22-24)
 The person who is at the first beginnings of the Christian faith
is a child (Hebrews 5:12-14)
58
John 3:5-13 Born again
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.
…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, …
The idea of a necessary rebirth was not new or strange to the people
who heard it in New Testament times.
The Jew knew all about rebirth.
When a man from another faith became a Jew and had been
accepted into Judaism by prayer and sacrifice and baptism, he was
regarded as being reborn.
"A proselyte who embraces Judaism," said the rabbis, "is like
a new-born child."
59
So radical was the change that the sins he had committed before his
reception were all done away with, for now he was a different person.
John 3:5-13 Born again
The Greek also knew the idea of rebirth and knew it well.
By far the most real religion of the Greeks at this time was the
faith of the mystery religions.
The mystery religions were all founded on the story of some
suffering and dying and rising god.
This story was played out as a passion play
The mystery religions offered mystic union with some god.
When that union was achieved the initiate was, in the language of
the Mysteries, a twice born.
The Hermetic Mysteries had as part of their basic belief:
"There can be no salvation without regeneration."
In the Phrygian, the initiate, after his initiation, was fed with milk
as if he was a new born babe.
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Rebirth and regeneration was longed for and men searched for it
everywhere
John 3:5-13 Born again
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.
…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, …
In the New Testament, and especially in the Fourth Gospel,
there are four closely inter-related ideas.
 There is the idea of rebirth;
 There is the idea of the kingdom of heaven, into which a
man cannot enter unless he is reborn;
 There is the idea of sonship of God; and
 There is the idea of life eternal.
All these ideas have a common thought behind them.
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22
John 3.5
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.
…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, …
The key to the interpretation of these words is found in
Jn 1:33, Joh 1:26, Joh 1:31; Mat 3:11; Mar 1:8; Luk 3:16
where water and Spirit are also found side by side, in
connection with baptism.
Water baptism is not sufficient to gain access to God’s kingdom
The sign of water baptism is valuable - it is of great importance as
a pictorial representation and as a seal.
But the sign must be accompanied by the thing it represents:
the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit.
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It is the latter that is absolutely necessary if one is to be saved.
In Joh 3:6 and 8 we no longer read about the birth of water but
only about the birth of the Spirit, the one great essential.
John 3:5 the kingdom of….
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.
… the kingdom of God. G2316 θεός theos …
A phrase used in 65 verses but in 10 New Testament
books, 4 times in Matthew
… kingdom of heaven. G3772 οὐρανός ouranos …
A phrase used in 31 verses but only in the Book of
Matthew
Neither phrase is found in the Old Testament
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John 3:5 the kingdom of heaven
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.
In John 3:5, Jesus uses the phrase “kingdom of God”
Is there a difference between the kingdom of God and the
kingdom of heaven?
64
… kingdom of heaven. G3772 οὐρανός ouranos …
We get our best definition of it from the Lord's Prayer where there are
two petitions side by side:
Thy Kingdom come:
Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Matt 6:10.
It is characteristic of Jewish style to say things twice,
the second way explaining and amplifying the first.
Almost any verse of the Psalms will show us this Jewish habit
of what is technically known as parallelism.
John 3:5 the kingdom of heaven
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.
Applying that principle that the 2nd petition amplifies and
explains the 1st, in the Lord's Prayer.
the kingdom of heaven is a society where God's will is as
perfectly done on earth as it is in heaven.
To be in the kingdom of heaven is to lead a life in which we
have willingly submitted everything to the will of God;
It is to have arrived at a stage when we perfectly and
completely accept the will of God.
It is the kingdom of believers in whom God rules and reigns
65
John 3:5 the kingdom of God
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.
The kingdom of God is God’s entire creation,
God created it, He owns it. But, it is not all yielded to Him, yet…
• Currently, the kingdom of this world is under the control and influence
of Satan – the god of this world. 2Co 4:4; Luk 4:5-6
• Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have been transferred, translated,
from the kingdom of this world into the kingdom of heaven. Col 1:13
• Some day in the near future the kingdom of this world and all who are
citizens of it will be destroyed Rev 11:15; 12:10
The kingdom of heaven will then include of all of God’s creation.
Thy Kingdom come:
Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Matt 6:10.
The kingdom of God will again be one with the kingdom in heaven.
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John 3:5
born of water and the Spirit
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.
Is Baptism essential?
No mention in Old Testament — were they saved?
Consider the repentant thief.
Be careful not to put works in the way of Grace
— that’s blasphemy!
Water is used emblematically
67
John 3:5
born of water and the Spirit
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.
In Scripture, water is associated with “Cleansing”
Don’t get caught up on the water — focus on the Spirit and
the Word of God.
Ps 119:9
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his
way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Eph 5:26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water by the word,
68
John 3:5
born of water and the Spirit
69
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.
In Scripture, water is associated with
“The Word”:
Ps 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word
hath quickened me.
1 Co 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in
Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I
have begotten you through the gospel.
Js 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
1 Ptr 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth
and abideth for ever.
John 3:6 born of the flesh and the Spirit
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit.
Sarx: flesh = humanity
Jn 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of
grace and truth.
1Jn 4:2-3 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [3] And every spirit that
confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world.
2 Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
The word seems to carry a hint of corrupt nature
70
John 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If
any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
John 3:6 born of the flesh and the Spirit
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.
Paul used Sarx / flesh in Romans repeatedly - 25 times
In Romans 8 he uses it 12 times
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Romans 8:1-13
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after
the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For
what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the
righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
John 3:6 born of the flesh and the Spirit
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.
Paul used Sarx / flesh in Romans repeatedly - 25 times
In Romans 8 he uses it 12 times
Romans 8:1-9
[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the
flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh
cannot please God. [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
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John 3:6 born of the flesh and the Spirit
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.
Paul used Sarx / flesh in Romans repeatedly - 25 times
In Romans 8 he uses it 12 times
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Romans 8:10-13
[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of
sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] But if
the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in
you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also
quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh,
to live after the flesh. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye
shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of
the body, ye shall live.
John 3:6 born of the flesh and the Spirit
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.
A man by himself is flesh and his power is limited to what the
flesh can do.
By himself he cannot be other than defeated and frustrated;
that we know only too well; it is the universal fact of human
experience.
But the very essence of the Spirit is power and life which are
beyond human power and human life;
When the Spirit takes possession of us, the defeated life of
human nature becomes the victorious life of God.
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John 3:6 born of the flesh and the Spirit
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit.
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The change comes when we love Jesus, believing He is our living Lord
and allow him into our hearts confessing Him in our life…
Romans 10:9-10
Then we are forgiven for the past and indwelt and armed
(empowered) by the Spirit; 1 Jhn 1:9; Jhn 7:39; 16:13; Act 1:8
Then we can truly accept the will of God. Rom 8:1-2
Then we become citizens of the kingdom of Heaven;
Eph 2:19; Php 3:20
Then we enter into life eternal, which is the expression
of the very life of God.
Rom 6:22; Eph 4:18-24
Then we can become sons of God;
John 1:12; Gal 3:22-29
John 3:6 born of the flesh and the Spirit
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.
The change comes when we acknowledge, accept and love the
Lord Jesus and allow him into our hearts.
• Then we are forgiven for the past and armed by the Spirit
for the future; then we can truly accept the will of God.
• Then we become citizens of the kingdom;
• Then we become sons of God;
• Then we enter into life eternal, which is the very life of
God.
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John 3:6 born of the flesh and the Spirit
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.
Comparison with Genesis Chapter One
“After their kind...” Compare John 3 with Gen 1:11, 12, 21
Note the broader parallels
— Darkness
— Spirit broods
— Light;
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Jer 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than anything. It is
incurable—who can know it? [ISV]
No one gets a “change” of heart, Jesus gives us a “new”
heart. Eze_11:19 Eze_18:31 Eze_36:26
Born of water and of the Spirit.
22
John 3.6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit.
Physical birth does not give one any priority in the sphere of
salvation. Joh 1:13
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit.
Sinful human nature only produces sinful human nature
Job 14:4, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an
unclean? Not one.”
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in
sin my mother conceived me.
It is only the Holy Spirit who produces in man the sanctified
human nature.
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John 3:5-6; Gal 6:15; Eph 2:1; Tit 3:5; Jas 1:18; 1 Pet 1:3;
1 Pet 1:23; 1 Jn 2:29; 1 Jn 3:9; 1 Jn 5:1; 1 Jn 5:18
1st birth – Physical birth
Physical, mortal life – Temporary
Born Spiritually dead already
Born Once, Die Twice;
Born Twice, Die Once…
Happy Birthday to you…
1st death – Physical death
Separation of the Spirit from
the Body - Temporary
Death is not the cessation of life.
It is not annihilation,
It is separation !!
Acts 17:11
2nd birth – Spiritual birth
life eternal
Ye must be born again…
John 3
2nd death – Eternal death
Separation of the Spirit
from God - Eternal
1 Thes 5:21
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John 3:5-6
born again  sonship
5 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit.
Being born again from above takes us to sonship.
We have a new father… God’s blessing and promise to Israel was if
they would be obedient to Him, He would be a father to them and
they would be His people.
Lev 26:12; Jer 7:23, 11:4, 30:22, 31:33, 32:38; Exek 11:20; Joel
2:27; Zec 13:9; Heb 11:16; Rev 21:7
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In one sense sonship is a tremendous privilege.
To those who believe there is given the power to become sons Jn.1:12.
But the very essence of sonship is necessarily obedience. Jn 14:21
The essence of sonship is love; and
The essence of love is obedience.
Matt 21:28-32
sonship
81
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the
first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and
went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered
and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him,
The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the
publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye
believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and
ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe
him. KJV
Which son obeyed the father?
Which son pleased the father?
Which son did the father’s will?
Which son enjoyed the fathers presence?
John 3:5-6
born again  sonship
5 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.
To be a son of God and to be in the kingdom of God are
one and the same thing.
While presently the kingdom of this world is under the
influence and rulership of Satan, we can be translated
to the Kingdom of Heaven – where our citizenship is
issued and we become even now partakers in the
Kingdom of God.
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Colossians 1:12-16
Revelation 11:15
Kingdom of God
God rules
Kingdom
of Heaven
Christ rules
Jesus
Christ
Kingdom of
this World
Satan rules
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John 3:5-6
born again  sonship
5 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The son of God and the citizen of the kingdom are people
who both love God and have completely and willingly
accepted the will of God.
We cannot with any sense of reality say that we love a
person and then do things which hurt and grieve that
person's heart.
Sonship is a privilege, but a privilege which is entered
into only when full obedience is given.
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John 3:7
born again  life eternal
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The main idea behind life eternal is not simply that of duration.
It is life eternally…
An everlasting life goes on forever and could just as easily be in
hell as it is in heaven.
All men possess and everlasting life.
The idea behind life eternal is the idea of a certain quality of life.
There is only one person who can properly be described by this
adjective eternal (aionios) and that one person is God.
life eternal is the kind of life that God lives; it is God's life; life
with God, in fellowship with Him and in His presence eternally.
85
John 3:7
born again  life eternal
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
To enter into life that is eternal is to enter into possession
of that kind of life which is the life of God.
It is to be lifted up above merely human, transient things
into that joy and peace which belong only to God.
Clearly a man can enter into this close fellowship with
God only when he renders to him that love, that
reverence, that devotion, that obedience which truly bring
him into fellowship with him.
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John 3:7
born again  life eternal
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Here then we have three great kindred conceptions,
• entry into the kingdom of heaven and through it, the
kingdom of God,
• sonship of God and
• life eternal;
and all result in obedience to the will of God.
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It is what links all these three conceptions together.
As we are and in our own strength, we are unable to render
to God this perfect obedience;
It is only when by God's grace and our belief in the Lord
Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit enters into us and takes
possession of us, changes us, and empowers us that we
can give to Him the reverence and the devotion we owe.
John 3:7
born again  life eternal
88
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
It is through Jesus Christ that we are reborn; it is when he
enters into possession of our hearts and lives that the change
comes.
When that happens we are born of water and the Spirit.
• Water is the symbol of cleansing.
When Jesus takes possession of our lives, when we love
him with all our heart, the sins of the past are forgiven and
forgotten.
• The Spirit is the symbol of power.
When Jesus takes possession of our lives it is not only that
the past is forgotten and forgiven, we gain the power to face
the future without fear or being separated for Him ever
again.
John 3:7
born again  life eternal
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Water and the Spirit stand for the cleansing and the
strengthening power of Christ, which wipes out the past and
gives victory in the future.
But, if that were all, we might well proceed to make the
same mess of life all over again;
Into our new life there enters a new power which
enables us to
• be what by ourselves we could never be and
• to do what by ourselves we could never do.
89
22
John 3.7
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Do not be amazed (or: do not begin to wonder) that I said
to you, You must be born anew.
To Nicodemus everything seemed so very, very strange.
He was used to the idea of salvation by law – by works;
For Nicodemus, salvation was by an act of man.
Now he is taught that salvation is a gift of God, and
that it is brought about by an event in which man is
necessarily passive.
We are not Saved because we are Obedient,
We are Obedient because we have been Saved.
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22
John 3.7
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
A person can do nothing about his own birth.
A person plays no part in his own birth – there is nothing he
can do to assist in it’s process…
Once born however, person has everything to do with how he
lives his life.
The thoughts, motives, words, deeds he harbors and engages
in are entirely of his own choosing.
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22
John 3.7
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
When Jesus says, “You must be born again,” he does not mean,
“See to it that you are born again.”
Jesus means, “Something has to happen to you:
the Holy Spirit must plant in your spirit, the new life from
above.”
92
Nicodemus, a teacher of the Law, a law he fully knew he could
not keep.
should not have shown either by his expression or by his
words that the teaching of Jesus regarding the absolute
necessity and sovereign character of regeneration is so very
strange and surprising.
Knowing the scriptures, he should have recognized this
and known it without being told.
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John 3.8
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
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.
The sovereign character of regeneration (being born again) is
clarified by an illustration taken from the action of the wind.
Pneuma: “wind; is used 370 times in the New Testament and
all but once it is used of the “spirit.”
Emphasizes the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit.
He is not subject to our devices, but is sovereign.
The same is true of the Hebrew word "ruach"; it too means both
spirit and wind.
93
In the first clause the term πνεῦμα means wind, not Spirit,
In the last clause: “So is everyone who is born of the Spirit”
indicating that we are dealing with a comparison.
22
JN 3.8
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound, but
you do not know where it comes from and where it goes to.
Nobody on earth can direct the wind.
• It acts with complete independence.
• It cannot even be seen.
• It must be there for in striking any object it makes a sound.
• Its source and its ultimate goal or destination no one knows.
Jesus adds, So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
The relation of the wind to your body resembles that of the
Spirit to your soul.
The wind does as it pleases. So does the Spirit.
94
The Spirit’s operation is sovereign, incomprehensible, and
mysterious.
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JN 3.8
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
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.
The believer possesses the Spirit of God
But, the Spirit of God must also possess the believer
Once we ‘have’ Him, He controls us
We do Not control Him
We need to go wherever He goes…
What a lesson this was for a man who had been brought up in
the belief that a person could and should save himself by
perfect obedience to the law of Moses and to a host of manmade, thoroughly analyzable, human regulations.
95
22
JN 3.9
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Nicodemus answered and said unto him,
How can these things be?
It must have been very difficult for Nicodemus to unlearn what he had
always believed.
So he asks, How can these things be?
He is constantly asking that same question:
how can? …
he cannot, can he? …
how can? (Joh 3:4, Joh 3:9).
96
This religious leader lacked the most elementary knowledge of the way
of salvation.
His Pharisaic training seems to have made him immune to spiritual
comprehension and understanding.
He is apparently still of the opinion that the words of Jesus must
be understood in a strictly literal sense.
22
John 3.10
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of
Israel, and knowest not these things?
Both Israel and teacher are preceded by the definite article.
“And you, that widely recognized and very prominent
teacher of the highly favored people of Israel, do you
actually mean to say that you are ignorant with respect to
these matters?”
Nicodemus had:
• the Old Testament,
• the teachings of the Baptist,
• the instruction of Jesus given in Joh 3:3-8,
but up to this moment the truth seems not to have
penetrated his mind.
97
John 3:10 Teaching the teacher
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel,
and knowest not these things?
Nicodemus, “The teacher”, was well known and respected as an
authority... He should have known about this “regeneration”
Ezek 11:19; 18:31; 36:26-28; Ps 143:10-11; Jer 31:33
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it? KJV
deceitful H6121 `aqob (aw-kobe'); from H6117; a knoll (as
swelling up in pride); fraudulent: crooked, deceitful, polluted.
desparately H605 'anash (aw-nash'); a primitive root; to be frail,
feeble, or (figuratively) melancholy: desperately wicked,
incurable, sick, woeful.
98
Which is why we need a new birth, a new heart
– not an old one just repaired…
John 3:11 Teaching the teacher
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and
testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
In the last analysis what is the matter with so many of us is
simply the fact that when Jesus Christ comes with his offer to
change us and re-create us, we more or less say:
"No thank you: I am quite satisfied with myself as I am,
and I don't want to be changed.”
John 3:19
99
Jesus wants Nicodemus to know that there can be no doubt with
respect to the doctrine of baptism and regeneration which he has
discussed,
nor with respect to the doctrine of God's eternal decree for
the salvation of sinners, which he is about to reveal to him.
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John 3.11
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and
testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
The discussion dialogue now changes to discourse with Jesus
speaking and Nicodemus listening.
Jesus says, I solemnly assure you that which we know, we
utter, and that which we have seen, we testify.
Against the “we know” of Nicodemus (John 3:2), a
knowledge produced by human reflection,
the Lord places his own “we know,” a knowledge
resulting from close communion with the Father
(John 5:20; John 14:10)
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John 3.11
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know,
and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our
witness.
Jesus claims not only “that which we know”,
He claims it is “that which we have seen”.
“we utter” is more than just what He speaks,
it is what “we testify of” – what He has been a witness of,
which is a more definite and forceful expression.
The term testify immediately reminds one of what was said
with reference to the Baptist (John 1:7-8 > John 1:34).
John 3:5 points to the work of the forerunner.
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John 3.11
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and
testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Jesus adds, But you do not accept our testimony.
Nicodemus indicated by his questions and his entire expression
that he was not yet ready to accept the teaching of Jesus
concerning the necessity of regeneration.
Nicodemus was not the only one who hesitated to believe this
strange doctrine.
Christ uses the plural ‘you’.
102
The members of the Sanhedrin refused to admit that the Baptist was
right when he testified concerning Jesus.
They refused to believe that Jesus was who he claimed to be.
Consequently, these chief priests, elders, and scribes rejected
Christ's teaching on the subject of regeneration.
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John 3.12
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how
shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
If earthly matters, which take place within man's experience
and the necessity of which should be self-evident to any one
who reflects upon his own natural inability to please God, are
regarded as being incredible,
will not heavenly matters — God's eternal plan for the
redemption of mankind by sending his Son into the world
(John 3:16) — be rejected much more readily?
Heavenly things lie completely outside of the range of man's
physical experience.
103
If the earthly things have been rejected, how can it be
reasonably expected that the much more mysterious heavenly
things will be accepted?
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John 3.12
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
If I have told you earthly things — he implies that he has
been doing this — and you do not believe, how shall you
believe if I tell you heavenly things?
Jesus had been speaking of earthly things; i.e., of things
which, though heavenly in character and origin, take place
on earth; e.g., regeneration.
It is clear from John 1:11, 1:26; John 2:4, 2:9, that such truths,
though clearly taught even in the Old Testament, were rejected
by men like Nicodemus.
At best, such doctrines were regarded as being very strange.
They were not received nor were they accepted by them.
104
John 3:12 Teaching the teacher
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how
shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
There is a warning here for every one of us.
It is easy:
• To sit in discussion groups,
• To sit in a study and
• To read books,
• To discuss the intellectual truth of Christianity;
but the essential thing is to experience the power
of Christianity.
105
It is fatally easy to start at the wrong end and to come to the
conclusion that it is enough and you are all right with God,
to think of Christianity as something to be discussed,
not as a relationship with Him that is to be experienced.
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John 3.13
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down
from heaven, even the Son of man which is (dwells, has His home) in
heaven. Some MSS omit the phrase ‘which is in heaven’
In order to have first-hand information about heavenly things one
must have been present in God's Throne-room when the decisions
were made.
No one has gone up into heaven
Hence, God's decree concerning the redemption of his people
lies completely outside of the range of man's knowledge until it
is revealed to him.
106
Jesus – the Son - was present with the Father when the plan was
made which centers in the decree to send the Son into the world in
order to bear the curse and set man free. Ps 2
The One who descended from heaven to earth, becoming a man
Himself, the Son of man. Eph 4:8-10
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John 3.14-15
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son
of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in him may
have life eternal."
The heart and center of this wonderful plan of redemption is stated in
verses John 3:14-18.
It is something entirely new, but as something which had been
partially disclosed in the types of the old dispensation
Compare with the Brazen Serpent in Numbers 21:4-9.
• Sin is acknowledged; “look and live.”
• There was no remedy that man could develop;
• They weren’t told to fight with the serpents (no society for
exterminating serpents?);
• No offering was made to the serpents,
• No looking to Moses...
107
They were not to look to their wounds, just “look and live”! Tit 3:5
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JN 3.14-15
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have life eternal."
The story of The Serpent Lifted Up is found in Numbers 21.
Theme: Israel's Journey from Sinai to the Plains of Moab:
A Lesson Concerning Sin and Grace
108
Chapters 1-9: Preparations for leaving Sinai.
Chapters 10-21 Journey from Sinai to the plains of
Moab: a story of repeated sin and resulting failure
until Jehovah in his grace causes the serpent to be
lifted up. Thereupon mainly,
Chapters 22-36 Blessing and victory in the plains of
Moab.
Numbers 21:4-9
109
[4] And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to
compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much
discouraged because of the way. [5] And the people spake against
God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of
Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there
any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. [6] And the Lord
sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and
much people of Israel died.
[7] Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for
we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the
Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for
the people.
[8] And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it
upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten,
when he looketh upon it, shall live. [9] And Moses made a serpent of
brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent
had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Numbers 21:4-9
That story much impressed the Israelites.
They told how in later times that brazen serpent became
an idol and in the days of Hezekiah had to be destroyed
because people were worshipping it.
2 Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the
images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the
brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days
the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it
Nehushtan.
The Jews themselves were puzzled by this incident in view
of the fact that they were absolutely forbidden to make
graven images
110
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JN 3.14-15
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in him
may have life eternal."
In John 3:14 the words “As Moses … so must the Son of man”
clearly indicate that the event recorded in Numbers 21 is a type of
the lifting up of the Son of man.
a. In both cases death threatens as a punishment for sin.
b. In both cases it is God himself who, in his sovereign grace,
provides a remedy.
c. In both cases this remedy consists of something (or some One)
which (who) must be lifted up, in public view.
111
d. In both cases those who, with a believing heart, look unto that
which (or: look unto the One who) is lifted up, are healed.
John 3.14-15
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in him
may have life eternal."
•The serpents were a “type”, a symbol representing sin.
Aesculapius (single serpent) = god of Medicine
Hermes (double serpent) = god of Commerce
Which one is one your doctor’s diploma and lapel ???
112
• Bronze symbolizes judgment. The Brass Serpent a model of Jesus
Christ
The Cross does not ‘save’ you – Jesus saves you…
He was “made sin” (2 Cor 5:21). God put upon Him what we all
had earned.
You don’t just give your heart to Christ: You receive HIM.
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JN 3.14-15
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man
must be lifted up, that every one who believes in him may have life
eternal."
In Numbers the people are face to face with physical death;
In John, mankind is viewed as exposed to eternal death because
of sin.
In Numbers it is the type that is lifted up — the brazen serpent had
no power to heal. Believing the word of God had the power.
It points forward to the Antitype, Christ, who does have this
power.
113
In Numbers the emphasis is on physical healing: when a man fixed
his eye upon the serpent of brass, he was restored to health.
In John it is spiritual life — everlasting life — that is granted to
him who reposes his trust in the One who is lifted up.
22
JN 3.14-15
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have life eternal."
The lifting up of the Son of man is presented as a “must.”
(Mar 8:31; Luk 24:7).
It is not a remedy; It is the only possible remedy for sin,
Only in this way only can the demands of God's
holiness and righteousness — and love! — be
met.
114
22
JN 3.14-15
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have life eternal.“
The verb to lift up is "hupsoun."
It is used of Jesus in 2 senses.
• In John’s Gospel the term to be lifted up (from ὑψόω)
always refers to the cross (Joh 8:28; Joh 12:32, 34).
• Elsewhere the term is used with reference to his
exaltation (Act 2:33; 5:31; Php.2:9).
115
Where does the glory of all of God's attributes in
Christ shine more brilliantly than on the cross
(Joh 12:28, 2:32-33)?
John 3.14-15
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have life eternal.“
The double lifting up in Jesus' life -- the lifting on the Cross and
the lifting into glory are inextricably connected.
The one could not have happened without the other.
116
For Jesus the Cross was the way to glory;
• had he refused it,
• had he evaded it,
• had he taken steps to escape it, as he might so easily
have done,
there would have been no glory for him.
John 3.14-15
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have life eternal.“
It is the same for us.
We can, if we like, choose the easy way;
We can, if we like, refuse to look to Jesus on the cross,
who took on Himself our sin and it’s penalty;
We can, if we like, refuse the cross that every Christian
is called to bear;
but if we do, we lose the glory.
117
John 3:16
the greatest being
the greatest degree
the greatest affection
the greatest object of love
the greatest act
the greatest treasure
the greatest relationship
the greatest gift
the greatest company
the greatest trust
the greatest object of faith
the greatest deliverance
the greatest assurance
the greatest promise
the greatest blessing
118
For God
So
Loved
the world
that he gave
his only
Begotten
Son,
that whosoever
Believeth
in him
should not perish
but have
Everlasting
life.
FOR SO
LOVED
GOD
THE
WORLD
THAT
HIS SON
THE
ONLY BEGOTTEN
HE GAVE,
THAT
EVERYONE
WHO
BELIEVES
ON
HIM
MAY NOT PERISH
BUT
MAY HAVE
LIFE
ETERNAL
(IGrNT+)
119
Ουτως G3779 γαρ G1063
Ηγαπησεν G25 [G5656] ο G3588
Θεος G2316
Τον G3588
Κοσμον G2889
Ωστε G5620 τον G3588
Υιον G5207 αυτου G846
Τον G3588
Μονογενη G3439
Εδωκεν G1325 [G5656]
Ινα G2443
Πας G3956
Ο G3588
Πιστευων G4100 [G5723]
Εις G1519
Αυτον G846 μη G3361
Αποληται G622 [G5643]
Αλλ G235
Εχη G2192 [G5725]
Ζωην G2222
Αιωνιον G166
John 3.14-16
Believing in Jesus
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in
him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he
gave his only Son so that every one who believes in him
should not perish but have everlasting life."
1] Believing in Jesus means believing with all our hearts that God
is as Jesus declared him to be.
It means we believe that:
• God loves us and cares for us,
• God wants nothing more than to forgive us.
• Jesus died for our sin and rose again for our life in Him
• Jesus is our Saviour AND Lord, and we prove it by how
we work out our new life in Him here and now.
120
It was not easy for a Jew to believe that.
John 3.14-16
Believing in Jesus
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in
him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he
gave his only Son so that every one who believes in him
should not perish but have everlasting life."
The Jew looked on God as:
• one who imposed his laws upon his people and punished
them if they broke them.
• a judge and on man as a criminal at his judgment seat.
• one who demanded sacrifices and offerings; to get into his
presence man had to pay the price laid down.
121
It was hard not to think of God as a judge waiting to exact penalty,
a task-master waiting to pounce, but rather as a Father who
longed to have his erring children come back home.
John 3.14-16
Believing in Jesus
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved
the world that he gave his only Son so that every one
who believes in him should not perish but have
everlasting life."
We must believe that Jesus is as God said He is
- the Son of God,
• that in him is the mind of God,
• that he knew God so well, was so close to God, was
so one with God, that he could tell us the absolute truth
about him.
122
John 3.14-16
Believing in Jesus
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in
him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he
gave his only Son so that every one who believes in him
should not perish but have everlasting life."
123
We believe that God is a loving Father because we believe that
Jesus is the Son of God and that therefore what he says about
God is true.
Rom 10:9 …that if you confess with your mouth the Lord
Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from
the dead, you will be saved.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he
who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
John 3.14-16
Believing in Jesus
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the
world that he gave his only Son so that every one who
believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Belief in Jesus has these 3 elements-• belief that God is our loving Father,
• belief that Jesus is the son of God and therefore tells us
the truth about God and life, and
• unswerving and unquestioning obedience to Jesus.
124
John 3.14-16
Believing in Jesus
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in
him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he
gave his only Son so that every one who believes in him
should not perish but have everlasting life."
If we believe these things then we must stake everything on the
fact that
• What Jesus says is true and so whatever he says we must do
• Whenever he expects and commands we must obey.
• When he tells us to cast ourselves unreservedly on the mercy
of God we must do so.
125
We must take Jesus at his word. Even the smallest actions in life
must be done in unquestioning obedience to him.
John 3.14-16
life eternal
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved
the world that he gave his only Son so that every one who
believes in him should not perish but have everlasting
life. [lit: life eternal]"
The second great phrase is life eternal.
• To possess life eternal is to share in the very life of God
himself.
• To have life eternal envelops every relationship in life with
peace.
126
John 3.14-16
life eternal
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in
him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he
gave his only Son so that every one who believes in him
should not perish but have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]"
life eternal gives us peace with God.
We are no longer cringing before a tyrannical king or seeking
to hide from an austere judge.
We are at home with our Father.
life eternal gives us peace with men.
• If we have been forgiven we must be forgiving.
• It enables us to see men as God sees them.
• It makes us and all men into one great family joined in love.
127
John 3.14-16
life eternal
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the
world that he gave his only Son so that every one who
believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
[lit: life eternal]“
life eternal gives us peace with life.
128
If God is Father, God is working all things together for good.
When we believe that God is our loving Father, we also
believe that the father's hand will never cause his child a
needless tear.
We may not understand life any better, but we will not
resent life any longer.
John 3.14-16
life eternal
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the
world that he gave his only Son so that every one who
believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
[lit: life eternal]“
life eternal gives us peace with ourselves.
A man is usually more afraid of himself than of anything else.
• He knows his own weakness;
• He knows the force of his own temptations;
• He knows his own tasks and the demands of his own life.
But now he knows that he is facing it all with God.
129
It is not just he who lives but Christ who lives in him.
There is a peace founded on strength in his life.
John 3.14-16
life eternal
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who
believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved
the world that he gave his only Son so that every one who
believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
[lit: life eternal]“
life eternal makes him certain that the deepest peace on earth
is only a shadow of the ultimate peace which is to come.
• It gives him a hope and a goal to which he travels.
• It gives him a life of glorious wonder here and yet, at the
same time, a life in which the best is yet to be.
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22
John 3.16
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
131
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that
every one who believes in him should not perish but have
everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
The verse sheds light on the following aspects of God's infinite love:
1. its character (so loved),
2. its Author (God),
3. its object (the world),
4. its Gift (his Son, the only-begotten), and
5. its purpose (that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have everlasting life).
“For” establishes a causal relation between this and verse 15.
That it is only in connection with Christ that everlasting life is
ever obtained (Joh 3:15) is made clear from the fact that it has
pleased God to grant this supreme gift only to those who repose
their trust in him (Joh 3:16).
22
John 3.16
Its Author
God so loved
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
God is ever and always full of life and full of love.
Take all human virtues; then raise them to the nth degree,
and realize that no matter how grand and glorious a total
picture is formed in the mind,
even that is a mere shadow of the love-life which exists
eternally in the heart of him whose very name is Love.
The love of God precedes our love (1Jn 4:9-10, 1Jn 4:19;
Rom 5:8-10), and it makes the our love of God possible.
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John 3.16
Its Author
God so loved
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that
every one who believes in him should not perish but have
everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
The initiative in all salvation lies with God.
• Sometimes we present Christianity in a way that it sounds as if
God has to be pacified, as if he had to be persuaded to forgive.
• Sometimes men paint a picture of a stern, angry, unforgiving God
and a gentle, loving, forgiving Jesus.
• Sometimes men present the Christian message a way that it
sounds as if Jesus did something which changed the attitude of
God to men from condemnation to forgiveness.
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But this text tells us that it was with God that it all started.
It was God who sent his Son, and he sent him because he loved
men. At the back of everything is the love of God.
22
John 3.16
Its character
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
‘so loved’
The word “so” indicates:
The infinite degree and glorious manner that God loves.
The tense used in the original (the aorist ἠγάπμσεν) shows
that God's love in action,
It reached back out of eternity and
It came to fruition in Bethlehem and at Calvary,
It is one, great, central plan and fact.
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John 3:16 THE LOVE OF GOD
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
It is easy to think of God as looking at men in their
heedlessness and their disobedience and their rebellion and
saying:
"I'll break them: I'll discipline them and punish them and
scourge them until they come back."
It is easy to think of God as seeking the allegiance of men in
order to satisfy his own desire for power and for what we
might call a completely subject universe.
It is easy for us to think that way because that’s the way
we would act having believed Satan’s lie(s)
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John 3:16 THE LOVE OF GOD
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
This text is that it shows us God acting not for his own sake,
but for ours,
He is not acting to satisfy his desire for power,
He is not acting to bring a universe to heel,
He is acting to satisfy his deep love us.
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God is not like an absolute monarch who treats each man as
a subject to be reduced to abject obedience.
God is the Father who cannot be happy until his wandering
children have come home.
God will judge but he’d much rather forgive …
22
John 3.16 Its object, the world
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
The object of this love is the world.
Kosmos, “world”: Bringing order out of chaos..
kosmos is the root word in “cosmetics...”
The world is under judgment (Jn 9:39),
in the control of its prince, Satan (Jn 12:31),
yet it is overcome by Christ (Jn 16:33).
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‘The world’, as used here, must mean mankind which,
though sin-laden, exposed to the judgment, and in need of
salvation (Joh 3:16-17), is still the object of God’s love and
care.
22
John 3.16 Its object, the world
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
By reason of the context and other passages in which a similar
thought is expressed, here the term ‘world’ indicates fallen
mankind in its international aspect:
Including men from every tribe and nation; not only Jews
but also Gentiles.
This thought is expressed repeatedly in the Gospel of John
Physical ancestry has nothing to do with entrance into the
kingdom of heaven
Joh 1:12-13; Joh 8:6; Joh 8:31-39.
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John 3.16 Its object, the world
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that
every one who believes in him should not perish but have
everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
It was the world that God so loved.
It was not a nation; it was not the good people;
It was not only the people who loved him; it was the world.
• The unlovable and the unlovely,
• The lonely who have no one else to love them,
• The man who loves God but who never thinks of him,
• The man who rests in the love of God but who spurns it
- all are included in this vast inclusive love of God.
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Augustine: "God loves each one of us as if there was only one of
us to love.”
22
John 3.16 Its gift, His only Son
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
“… that he gave his Son, the only-begotten.”
The original literally reads,
“that his Son, the only-begotten, he gave.”
All the emphasis is on the greatness of the gift;
The verb ‘he gave’ must be taken in the sense of he gave
unto death as an offering for sin (Jn 15:13; 1Jn 3:16; 1Jn
4:10; Ro 8:32 - John's ‘gave’ is Paul's ‘spared not’).
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22
John 3.16 Its gift, His only Son
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
“… that he gave his Son, the only-begotten.”
We hear the echo of Gen 22:2 “Take now thy son, thine only
son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac…”
The gift of the Son is the peak, the climax, the extent and
limit of God's love (Mat 21:33-39).
It’s not that God will do no more but
that there is nothing more He can do….
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John 3.16 Its purpose
… so that everyone who believes
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son
so that every one who believes in him should not
perish but have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
“that whoever believes” clearly indicates that the reference
is not to birds and trees but to mankind.
Joh 4:42; Joh 8:12; 1Jn 4:14.
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22
John 3.16 Its purpose … should not perish
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
God does not leave mankind to itself.
He so loved the world that his Son, the only begotten, he
gave, with this purpose: that those who receive him with
abiding trust and confidence may have everlasting life.
143
Though the Gospel is proclaimed to men of every tribe and
nation, not every one who hears it believes in the Son.
But whoever believes — whether he be a Jew or a
Gentile — has everlasting life.
22
John 3.16 Its purpose … should not perish
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son
so that every one who believes in him should not perish
but have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
‘perish’ is the antonym of having everlasting life.
It does not mean:
should not lose physical existence; nor
should not be annihilated.
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22
John 3.16 Its purpose … should not perish
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son
so that every one who believes in him should not perish
but have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
Perishing here refers to divine condemnation, complete and
everlasting, so that one is:
banished from the presence God’s love and
dwells forever in the presence God’s wrath,
It is a condition which begins here and now in a
limited sense but does not reach its full and terrible
culmination for both soul and body until the day of
great judgment
145
John 3.16 Its purpose
… have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“.
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
that every one who believes in him should not perish but
have everlasting life. [lit: life eternal]“
“life eternal”:
The Greek aionios with noun zoe implies that life eternal
begins at the moment of faith and never ends.
You don’t have to wait until you die to have life eternal —
you have it now!
It’s more than endless existence: it’s sharing the
Divine Life.
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22
John 3.16 Its purpose
… but have everlasting life.
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
“… but have everlasting life.”
All mankind possesses ‘everlasting’ … never ending
everlasting (αἰώνιος) occurs 17 times in the Gospel of
John and 6 times in 1 John, always with the noun life.
Whether it is life everlasting or everlasting death
(separation, isolation) is the issue.
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Everlasting life is the result of salvation, Col 1:13-14
Fellowship with God in Christ (Joh 17:3);
Partaking of the love of God (Joh 5:42),
of his peace (Joh 16:33), and
of his joy (Joh 17:13).
22
John 3.16 Its purpose
… but have everlasting life.
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
“… but have everlasting life.”
In order to receive this everlasting life one must believe in
God's only begotten Son.
God gave his Son; he gives us the faith to embrace the
Son; he gives us everlasting life as a reward for the
exercise of this faith.
‘faith’ is the gift of God (Eph 2:8),
The fruit of that faith, everlasting life, is also God's gift
(John 10:28).
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John 3:17-21 LOVE AND JUDGMENT
"For God did not send his son into the world to condemn
the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does
not believe already stands condemned. And this is the
reason of this condemnation -- the light came into the
world and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for
their deeds were evil. Every one whose deeds are
depraved hates the light, and does not come to the light,
but his deeds stand convicted. But he who puts the truth
into action comes to the light, that his deeds may be made
plain for all to see, because they are done in God."
149
John's grieves that so few accept the message that Jesus
brought;
When a man does accept it, he attests the fact that in his
belief the word of God is true.
22
JN 3.17
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.
As the Jews saw it, the Messiah at his coming would condemn the
heathen.
The Day of the Lord would mean punishment for the nations
which had oppressed Israel, but not for Israel.
This misinterpretation of prophecy had been censured most
severely by Amos (Amo 5:18-20), but it never subsided.
The Day of the Lord is not to punish the Gentiles, it is God’s
wrath being poured out on evil.
It is against this Jewish exclusivism that the words of Jesus are
directed.
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22
JN 3.17
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.
As the Jews saw it, the Messiah at his coming would condemn the
heathen.
The Day of the Lord would mean punishment for the nations
which had oppressed Israel, but not for Israel.
This misinterpretation of prophecy had been censured most
severely by Amos (Amo 5:18-20), but it never subsided.
The Day of the Lord is not to punish the Gentiles, it is God’s
wrath being poured out on evil.
It is against this Jewish exclusivism that the words of Jesus are
directed.
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22
JN 3.17
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.
The primary object of Christ's first coming was not to condemn
but to save. Luk 4:18-19 vs Isa 61:1-2
God's redemptive purpose is not confined to the Jews but
embraces the world
(men from every tribe and nation, considered as a unit);
‘be saved’ Salvation is not only deliverance from God’s wrath
directed as the punishment for sins
but from sin itself, and
the bestowal of everlasting life.
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Salvation not condemnation is what God had in store for the world
when he sent his Son – when He took upon Himself flesh and died
for us, becoming sin because of and for us.
22
JN 3.17
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.
If the purpose of Christ's first coming was to bring salvation, while the
purpose of the second coming will be to bring condemnation and
judgment, is God not judging sin now?
No one will simply wait for the day of the great consummation to
receive his sentence, whatever that sentence may be…
On that great judgment day: the verdict will be publicly proclaimed
(Joh 5:25-29).
The decision we make now brings about the sentence regarding
life eternal.
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John 5:22-32
154
22 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to
the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father.
He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who
sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has
passed out of death into life.
25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the
dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also
to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment,
because He is the Son of Man.
28 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the
tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good
deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a
resurrection of judgment.
30 "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment
is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
31 "If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true.
32 "There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony
which He gives about Me is true.
22
JN 3.18
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe
has been judged already, because he has not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.
Rom 3:23 … Rom 5:8… Rev 20:12, 15
Jesus divides all those to whom the message of salvation is presented
into two groups:
(1) The one who abides in Christ by faith is not judged; i.e., no
sentence of condemnation will ever be read against him.
Even now he is in the eyes of God without guilt.
155
(2) The one who rejects Christ by not believing in him as God's onlybegotten Son does not need to wait for the final judgment, as if
the verdict would be postponed until then.
Already, by the very fact of his obstinate unbelief, he has
been (and therefore stands) condemned.
JN 3.18
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
156
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not
believe has been judged already, because he has not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Later Jesus will saying:
"For judgment I came into this world" (Jn.9:39).
It is possible to offer a person an experience based in nothing
but love. an experience which is meant to do nothing but bring
joy and bliss, and for that experience to turn out a judgment.
When that person rejects, ignores, trivializes that
expression and experience, his reaction becomes the
action that judges and condemns them.
If he finds no beauty and no thrill we know that he has a
blind spot in his soul.
JN 3.18
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
157
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not
believe has been judged already, because he has not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
If, when a man is confronted with Jesus, his soul responds to
that wonder and beauty, he is on the way to salvation.
But if, when he is confronted with Jesus, he sees nothing
lovely, he stands condemned.
His reaction has condemned him.
God sent Jesus in love. He sent him for man's salvation; but
when that which was sent in love is rejected it becomes a
condemnation.
It is not God who has condemned the man; God only
loved him; the man has condemned himself.
JN 3.19
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near/In Jerusalem
158
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men
loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
Compare ourself with the Lord Jesus we see ourselves as we are.
The man who reacts in hostility to Jesus has loved the darkness rather
than the light.
It is only the evil-doer who does not wish to see himself and who does
not wish anyone else to see him.
Such a man will inevitably hate Jesus Christ, for Christ will show him
what he is and that is the last thing that he wants to see.
It is the concealing darkness that he loves and not the revealing light.
By his reaction to Jesus Christ, a man stands revealed and his soul laid
bare.
If he regards Christ with love, even with wistful yearning, for him there is
hope;
but if in Christ he sees nothing attractive he has condemned himself.
He who was sent in love has become to him judgment.
22
JN 3.19
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the Light,
for their deeds were evil.
judgment in this context means the divine decision or verdict.
the light has come into the world, Joh 1:4-5, Joh 1:9-11.
world Joh 1:10; Joh 1:26.
loved “men agapao darkness...” Men desired to remain
blind, were unwilling to give up their own ways, thoughts,
deeds, and desires
darkness Joh 1:5
light, Joh 1:4.
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JN 3.19
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the Light,
for their deeds were evil.
160
This is the basis of the divine declaration of guilt,
Our personal decision to reject Jesus.
Those who reject the light he brings are rejecting that
• Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ,
who is himself the Light,
the very embodiment of the truth and love of God,
• Who came into the realm of fallen mankind and Who is
revealed
• by means of the word of prophecy,
• by means of his own incarnation,
• by the witness of God the Holy Spirit’s to them
22
JN 3.19
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the Light,
for their deeds were evil.
Though some accepted him by far the majority preferred the moral
and spiritual darkness of sin
(spiritual blindness, hatred of the brethren, etc.,
1Jn 2:11, Jn 8:12; Jn 12:35, Jn 12:46; 1Jn 2:8-9).
In fact, they actually loved this darkness;
not that they were ignorant, having never heard the Gospel,
but rather that they loved and were unwilling to abandon
their evil works.
John 14:6
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22
JN 3.19
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the Light,
for their deeds were evil.
Though some accepted him by far the majority preferred the moral
and spiritual darkness of sin
(spiritual blindness, hatred of the brethren, etc.,
1Jn 2:11, Jn 8:12; Jn 12:35, Jn 12:46; 1Jn 2:8-9).
162
In fact, they actually loved this darkness;
not that they were ignorant, having never heard the Gospel,
but rather that they loved and were unwilling to abandon
their evil works.
John 14:6
22
JN 3.20
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not
come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Those in the habit of practicing what is wrong hate the light
and do not come to the light.
Jn 8:12; 14:6; 9:5; Mt 5:6, 14
Such a person abides in darkness
Such a person is always seeking ways to avoid the light;
163
22
JN 3.20
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to
the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
The person who abides in darkness
will have nothing to do with the Christ,
the source and embodiment of God's truth and love.
• They never read, much less study God’s written Word
• They refuse to attend church or involve themselves in with
Christians, attending only when they must and then without joy.
They may tolerate the company of God’s people but only so
long as they don’t talk about Jesus and their confidence in God.
164
People of this type always prefer the darkness and are terribly
frightened and uncomfortable when they are exposed to the light.
Such a person really hates the light, fearing it, because (by this light)
their (evil) deeds might be exposed and they may be forced to choose.
JN 3.21
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds
may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Poion ten aletheian: “doeth the truth.”
This phrase is used only twice, both by John
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with
him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth:
Belief in Jesus is a “participation”; a way of living
It is not just intellectual acknowledgement.
Our deeds, our motives, our character, our lifestyle do not
qualify us to receive the truth
But, they are the evidence of the truth that is in us...
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22
JN 3.21
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
The one who is in the habit of doing what is true and right
(1Jn 1:6) comes to the light.
There is a very close relationship between light and truth;
The one who does the truth comes to the light to demonstrate that
his deeds were wrought in God.
He desires to show that his deeds, though by no means
perfect, were, nevertheless, wrought with God's approval (that
they were done, in principle, according to God's law), and that
they retain this character forever.
If I desire to walk in the light, I must come to and stay in that light.
If I do not know and grow in truth, how can I expect to walk in it.
166
The discourse ends with an implicit invitation to Nicodemus to leave
the realm of darkness and unbelief and embrace Christ, the true light.
22
Synthesis of Joh. 2:23-3:21
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
The Son of God is revealing himself to ever-widening circles:
At Jerusalem, during the Passover-week, many people, observed
the signs which Jesus did and accepted him as a divine teacher, a
great and powerful prophet, and as such placed their trust in him.
With his penetrating eye Jesus read the secrets of men's
hearts and he knew that this was not saving faith and he did
not entrust himself to them by revealing who He actually was.
167
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin. He was
one of those who, having beheld the signs, accepted Jesus as a
divine teacher.
Jesus discerned the unspoken question within the heart of
Nicodemus:
“How can I enter the kingdom of God?”
22
Synthesis of Joh. 2:23-3:21
Jesus' Discussion With Nicodemus – Near / In Jerusalem
The Lord emphasized the necessity of being born anew.
He employed a term which can mean either: to be born from
above or to be born again.
Nicodemus did not understand that Jesus was talking about a
new, spiritual birth.
Jesus points out that he was not speaking about anything
physical, and that physical distinctions have no significance for the
kingdom of heaven.
He emphasizes that regeneration is a work of God over which
man has no more control than he has over the wind.
168