John Ch.3

John 3

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vs2 Nicodemus seems to have come on behalf of others, who are too afraid of showing any affiliation with Jesus at all. Nicodemus himself comes by night, for fear the turmoil it may cause if he comes during the day; and also, of possibly jeopardizing his own position in the Sanhedrin - and this is the problem!

vs 3-7 It was widely taught amongst the Jews that they as descendants of Abraham were automatically assured a place in Heaven - and that Messiah would come to usher in a New World where they would have “pre-eminence”. Jesus wastes no time in telling Nicodemus (with all his scholarly title and prestige) how far he really is from the Kingdom of God…so far in fact, that he - and all of us - must die to this life and be “born again” to a new one. “again” (Greek anothen) can be also translated “from above.”

Because the flesh (the first birth) cannot fulfill what is required by God.

In our natural birth we are born into sin - which we inherited from Adam and Eve: this is why there must now be a second birth - through the Holy Spirit; 

vs 8 Presently, Nicodemus only is able to view things through the lens of human reasoning and intellect. (He has not yet been born again). This is so far beyond Nicodemus’s understanding - and indeed everyone’s - until after Jesus’s resurrection, when everything will become clear! See Luke 24:45-48 

vs. 11 The “we” Jesus speaks of here, is likely referring to himself, John the Baptist and the OT prophets, whose message, they (the Sanhedrin) have clearly failed to receive: Had they received it and taken it seriously, they would have listened to John the Baptist and would have been ready in their hearts to listen to and receive Jesus Christ.

vs14 Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man 

(Daniel 7:13-14) and as if this wasn’t a clear enough statement to Nicodemus, Jesus drops another bombshell, with the implication that he has both come from and has seen Heaven: 

14-15 And here comes yet another truth bomb…Jesus is comparing himself to the bronze serpent: As the Son of Man he will be

1. Cut off  (Daniel 9:26)
2. Accursed (Deuteronomy 21:22-24)

And yet as the Son of Man…the Messiah, all who look to Him (just as with the bronze serpent)…all who believe on Him, will not only be healed physically, but will inherit eternal life (a spiritual/heart healing) 

For further study on this topic see: http://sarahshalom777.blogspot.com/2020/12/where-is-jesus-3.html

vs16 And finally, the most revelatory truth bomb of them all…the Son of man, who must be lifted up…is actually the Son of God! God is here…among us! He has come…just as he promised…Believe! …that you may not perish…For in him - and him alone - is eternal life!

vs17Before bringing the inevitable judgment, God will always offer mercy - there are foreshadows of this through Noah’s building of the ark (1Peter3.20) and Israel’s forty year wonderings in the desert (Joshua 2:9-14), but the ultimate fulfillment of this mercy will come through Jesus’s vicarious death on the Cross - the perfect substitutionary sacrifice once and for all.

vs 18 There is no other permanent sacrifice and there is therefore no other way in to the Kingdom of Heaven, except through him (see again the illustration in vs 14-15)

What is this name? It is the summation of every other name of God made known to his people: Yeshua - Jesus: The Lord is Salvation…

vs19-20 - see again vs4-5: Just as Israel after sinning against God, were given no option except to look upon the bronze serpent on a pole or else die - this is how it is with Jesus’s crucifixion: Either we step into the Light : we look upon him on the Cross, acknowledging that it is our iniquities that put him there - and be forgiven. Or we refuse - we turn away from the Light and face God’s judgment later.We must face him - no hiding; and we can - through the Cross

vs:22-24 In doing this, Jesus is both endorsing John’s baptism of Repentance, and continuing it…thereby showing his disciples and the people that repentance is key. This goes hand in hand with Matthew 3:2 & 4:17 “repent for the Kingdom is at hand.”

vs25 Possibly a conflict over John’s one baptism for repentance and the continual purification rituals imposed on the Jews by the Sanhedrin 

vs26-30 John again affirms Jesus’s right to carry on where he (is about to) leave off. It looks at this point, like John is realizing this. John’s disciples may have been excited when they saw everyone coming to the One that John endorsed: or, as seems more likely here, they were feeling somewhat threatened by this; because  John himself has to both remind and assure them that this is is exactly as it was meant to be. He is not the Christ…he is the one sent before Him; he is not the bridegroom - he is only the bridegroom’s friend.

vs31-32 Here, John echoes the words of Jesus to  Nicodemus in vs.11. He will at the same time, again declare the deity of Jesus, with such authority and yet humility - just as with ch.1:26-27. John also uses himself as a comparison, saying he is from earth - a fallen man like everyone else: But Jesus is unlike any prophet that has gone before: because he is literally from Heaven. 

In this way, John is attempting to remove the emphasis that has been placed on him - a mere man, and transfer it onto the only One who people need to follow!
(This issue of looking up to prophets, in order to hear from the Lord, is a stumbling block that still exists today.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus states that, up until this point (before the Sacrifice of the Cross and the New Covenant, where all can know God and dwell with him) there has been none greater than John the Baptist. John was the last prophet under the curtain of the Old Covenant, to proclaim the coming of the Lord: Now, his ministry too, is winding down, which marks the beginning of something profound and new; although it has been declared since the very beginning (see Genesis 3:15). Here begins the wrapping up of the Old Covenant, to make way for the unveiling of a New Covenant.

vs.33 To believe the words of Jesus is to believe the Word of God Himself (see ch.1:1)

34-36 Again a sudden and incredible unveiling of a threefold Godhead- like a braid of three cords - but so much more omniscient…such height, depth, length and breadth we find to this mystery: A Father, a Son and a Spirit. And they are One; they are Love; they are Life (and they are also  Righteous Judgment.) See also ch.14:5-10

He is the Lord our God - who could ever fathom Him - and how? If we could, surely we would be “god” just as he is. 

vs.36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

vs.36 Here is the final testimony from the Lord’s final herald; The testimony that seals and finalizes everything that has been spoken before: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) This is the testimony of the Gospel of Christ!