John 3:1-15-A Word. Sunday 4 November 2007

1.Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.

2.He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

Jesus, is also a Pharisee. And He also has attachments with John the Baptist and the Essenes community. Unfortunately for those seeking truth from Scripture, many words and passages and events have been given wrong translation and interpretations. Pharisees, is one of those words.

3.In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Jesus is speaking of the 'offer of the Kingdom' here. As the Law was offered to Israel at Sinai, so is God offering His Grace to them.

4."How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

Nicodemus isn't stupid. This phrase helps, enables, the discussion and teaching for which this scripture was written.

5.Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

6.Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

7.You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

8.The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Before this chapter, we read of baptism, water baptism and water into wine. Baptism, ritual immersion in a bath, Mikveh, was a common occurence in Israel, being, as it were tied up with ritual purity. Water is cleansing of sin. Spirit, is the power and Grace of God to live a new life.

9."How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

There were then, as now, many differs in interpretation. This proved a stumbling point more than once for the eager to learn disciples of Jesus.

10."You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?

11.I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

Jesus is speaking not only of His teachings but also of John the Baptist and those of Pharisaic interpretation and the Essenes teachings. (note: Jesus quotes the Essene Qumran scroll text of Isaiah 61 to John's disciples when they enquire, later on, as to whether Jesus is the long awaited Messiah).

12.I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

13.No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.

14.Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

As with much one might call prophetic, it is in fact parralel teaching. This, is what happened once, and has or is to happen again.

15.that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Belief must be continuous-it is not, a one time thing. (study John 3:16-17).

God Bless His Word.