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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.