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John 3:1-21

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Lyle Mantooth 2026-01-07 11:54:09 -05:00
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title = "John 3:1–21"
date = "2026-01-07"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John3.1-21)
This discussion contains perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible, but reading it in its context brings a lot of nuance and depth that is lost otherwise.
Nicodemus is a Greek name for a very Jewish man.
He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews.
At this point in Jesus's ministry, the Pharisees were not set against Him, but also weren't sure what to make of Him.
The general consensus among them appears to be that He was a prophet because He was performing signs in Jerusalem, which He could not do if His message wasn't from God.
Perhaps Nicodemus was sent to find out more of what message Jesus was proclaiming.
Perhaps he was just curious himself.
Nicodemus asserts that Jesus must have come from God, and Jesus answers that "unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (_v. 3_)
I learned today that "born again" in Greek is ambiguous, and can also be translated "born from above".
What's especially interesting about this ambiguity is that both translations work in this context, and both meainings are probably intended at the same time.
To see the kingdom of God, one must be born again from above, that is, spiritually.
Nicodemus takes it only to mean "a second time". (_v. 4_)
I wonder if this _double entendre_ works in Aramaic as well as Greek; if not, it may explain why Nicodemus needed Jesus to spell it out for him.
Because the Greek word for "wind" also means "spirit", there is additional wordplay going on in verse 8.
Just as the physical wind is invisible and uncontrollable, the Spirit moves in people invisibly and independently to bring about this spiritual rebirth.
This happens whether they expect it or ask for it or not.
Nicodemus is confused by this, but Jesus says he should have expected these things to be the case, as the Scriptures have taught it.
Ezekiel speaks of the Lord giving people a new spirit, replacing their heart of stone with a heart of flesh.
The Pslams and Proverbs speak of the sovereignty of God over the thoughts and actions of men, including to worship Him correctly.
A baby doesn't decide to be born; it just begins without conscious effort (modern medicine notwithstanding).
So also, we are not born again because we decided to be but because the Spirit moved in us to regenerate us.
Therefore, those that believe in the Son are saved from the condemnation they had already earned by not believing in Him.
We are given eternal life because we believe, but we don't believe because we tried to.
The description of "people [who] loved the darkness" in verse 19 does not imply any exceptions.
God is the One who brings light to the people, and whether they come to it or not is up to Him. (_v. 21_)
* * *
Your love for us who hated Your light is radically magnificent.