John 3

John 3 introduces Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, who comes to Him by night seeking understanding. This chapter emphasizes themes of spiritual rebirth, the necessity of faith in Jesus for salvation, and God’s immense love for humanity, highlighted by the famous verse, John 3:16. Through Jesus’ teachings to Nicodemus, this chapter explores the nature of God’s kingdom, eternal life, and the light of truth versus the darkness of unbelief.

John 3:1-4 (NKJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

This passage introduces Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, who comes to Jesus seeking deeper understanding. Jesus tells him that to see the kingdom of God, one must be "born again," referring to a spiritual transformation. This kingdom includes the spiritual kingdom, which began at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit—the Comforter—was poured out, and the eternal kingdom, which believers will enter at Christ’s second coming. Nicodemus misunderstands, interpreting Jesus’s words literally and questioning how one can re-enter their mother’s womb to be born again. Jesus’s mention of being "born of water and the Spirit" emphasizes the need for both inward cleansing and spiritual rebirth. While "born of water" is often associated with baptism as a symbol of repentance and renewal, the true cleansing happens inwardly through faith and surrender to Christ, as seen when Jesus told Peter, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean" (John 13:10, NKJV), indicating Peter’s spiritual cleansing through faith. Similarly, the thief on the cross, though never baptized, was promised eternal life through his sincere repentance and belief in Jesus. This passage highlights that salvation is by grace through faith and that the transformative work of the Holy Spirit enables believers to be part of the spiritual kingdom now and prepares them for eternal life in heaven.

John 3:5-10 (NKJV)
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?”

Jesus clarifies that this rebirth is not physical but spiritual, saying, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6, NKJV), meaning that human effort, traditions, or physical birth cannot produce spiritual transformation. Only the Holy Spirit can renew the heart and make a person a new creation in Christ. Nicodemus, a religious leader, struggles to grasp this concept, as he equates righteousness with outward rituals rather than an inner change. Jesus likens the Spirit’s work to the wind—unseen yet powerful and life-changing—emphasizing that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live in harmony with God’s principles, bringing freedom from the limitations of the flesh and producing the fruits of a transformed life. This passage reinforces that true righteousness begins with surrender and faith, leading to a Spirit-filled life that prepares believers for the kingdom of God.

John 3:11-13 (NKJV)
11 “Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

Jesus challenges Nicodemus’s disbelief, emphasizing that He is sharing firsthand knowledge of heavenly truths, yet Nicodemus struggles to accept it. Jesus explains that if Nicodemus cannot understand earthly analogies of spiritual truths, he will find it even harder to grasp heavenly realities. In verse 13, Jesus declares that "no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven," distinguishing Himself as the only one uniquely qualified to reveal heavenly truths. While Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven (Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11), they were brought there by God’s power and did not descend back to earth to reveal heavenly mysteries. In contrast, Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, pre-existed in heaven, descended to earth to reveal God’s plan of salvation, and retains full knowledge and authority as the mediator between heaven and earth. This makes Him uniquely able to teach the truth about salvation and God’s kingdom, bridging the gap between humanity and the divine.

John 3:14-15 (NKJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus compares His upcoming crucifixion to the story of Moses lifting up the bronze serpent for Israel’s healing in the wilderness. Just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the serpent in faith, so too will those who look to Jesus in faith receive eternal life. This points to Jesus’ sacrifice as the means of salvation, providing eternal life to all who believe in Him.

John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

This passage reveals the magnitude of God’s love for humanity, demonstrated in the giving of His "only begotten Son" so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. This passage highlights the depth of God’s love, not only for the world as a whole but for each individual, as He gave His most precious gift—His Son. Understanding the Sonship of Christ is crucial here. Jesus is the "only begotten Son," meaning He came out from God’s own substance and shares a unique, divine relationship with the Father. He is deeply loved by God as the "Beloved Son," not a son by designation or role-playing, as taught by the Trinity doctrine, but truly begotten from the Father’s essence. Verse 17 further emphasizes that God sent His Son not to condemn the world but to save it, underscoring the selfless and sacrificial nature of God’s love and Christ’s mission. This truth invites believers to comprehend both the Father’s infinite love and the divine origin and role of His Son in the plan of salvation.

John 3:18-21 (NKJV)
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

This passage emphasizes the critical choice every individual faces regarding belief in Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. Those who believe in Him are not condemned, but those who reject Him are already condemned because they have refused to accept the light of salvation. Jesus, as the light of the world, reveals truth and exposes sin, but many choose darkness over light because they love their sinful deeds. The passage highlights the moral struggle within humanity: those who do evil avoid the light to escape exposure, while those who practice truth come to the light, demonstrating that their actions are in harmony with God’s will. This section underscores the importance of personal accountability and the transformative power of embracing Jesus, as living in the light leads to a life guided by God’s truth and ultimately to salvation.

John 3:22-30 (NKJV)
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.
23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.
24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John the Baptist’s disciples express concern over Jesus’ growing influence, but John responds with humility and joy. He acknowledges his role as a forerunner, pointing to Jesus as the bridegroom and himself as the friend who rejoices at the bridegroom’s presence. John’s statement, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” captures his acceptance of Jesus’ prominence and his own subservient role.

John 3:31-36 (NKJV)
31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.
33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.
34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

This passage highlights the supremacy of Jesus, who comes from above and is above all, contrasting Him with earthly messengers who can only speak of earthly things. Jesus, sent from God, speaks the words of God with full authority, for He has received the Spirit without measure. By this time, after His baptism, the Holy Spirit had descended upon Him, empowering Him fully for His mission. This unlimited presence of the Spirit signifies His unique role as the divine Son of God, unlike anyone else. The passage calls for belief in Jesus as the One who bears witness to heavenly truths, with the assurance that whoever believes in Him has everlasting life. However, it also warns that rejecting the Son results in remaining under God’s wrath, emphasizing the eternal significance of accepting Christ’s words and mission. This section underscores Jesus’s divine authority, the fullness of His Spirit, and the crucial choice between life and judgment.