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John Chapter Three

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Son of God the Savior and Rebirth

   A. The necessity of rebirth ---- the Son of God revealed that unless one was born again he could not see the kingdom of God (v.1-8)

 B. The fulfillment of rebirth ---- the Son of God must be lifted up (v.9-17)

 C. The prerequisite of rebirth ---- men’s believing into and receiving the Son of God (v.18-21)

 D. The effect of rebirth ---- He (the Son of God) must increase but I must decrease. (V.22-30)

 E. The origin of rebirth ---- the Son of God who comes from above (v.31-36)

        

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

John. 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews.

YLT: “And there was a man of the Pharisees Nicodemus his name a ruler of the Jews ”

Meaning of Words: Nicodemus”: victorious among his people; “ruler”: chief (ruler) magistrate prince;

Literal Meaning: there is a word “but” in the beginning of this verse in the original which indicates that this man was different from those who believed only when they saw the signs by the Lord (see 2:23). He approached the Lord for truth with a true heart.

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus ” Nicodemus represented the man of the upper class and he was characterized by the features as below: (1) as a man of Pharisee perhaps he was zealous of his fathers’ traditions (see Matt 15:1-2); (2) as a ruler of the Jews he may have a noble status; (3) he was a men who feared God and sought the heart of God; (4) as an elder (v.4) he had many life experiences; (5) as a teacher of Israel (v.10) he has quite an excellent level of edification; (6) he was humble for he was willing to enquire of the younger Jesus in spite of Nicodemus’s noble social status and called Him “Rabbi” respectfully (v.2); (7) from his dialogue with the Lord Jesus we can infer that he was a honest and virtuous man.

“A ruler of the Jews”: a member of the Jewish synagogues (the supreme parliament) belonged to the noble class of the Jewish society at that time.

 

John. 3:2 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."

YLT: “this one came unto him by night and said to him `Rabbi we have known that from God thou hast come -- a teacher for no one these signs is able to do that thou dost if God may not be with him.'”

Literal Meaning: This man came to Jesus by night” he came to visit the Lord Jesus by night so that there would be no interruption from others and he could enquire of the Lord personally and had a more intimate talk with the Lord. Others held that Nicodemus dared not to visit the Lord openly in the daytime for fear of arousing any hostility but it was of less possibility (see 7:50-51; 19:39).

  You are a teacher come from God.” ---- “Come from God” an emphatic adjective indicates that he confessed the Lord Jesus was a teacher different from all those teachers who obtained the qualifications through men’s training.

  Nicodemus came straight to the point that he wanted to receive better teaching from the Lord Jesus in order to improve his condition in front of God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Just like Nicodemus some like to hear the gospels in private so we should follow the example of the Lord Jesus and prepare to talk about the gospels with others in private.

     2) The Lord Jesus talked with the moral Nicodemus by night in private but with the immoral woman of Samaria during the daytime in public (see 4:6-7). When the believers talk with each other the talking situation should be paid attention to (e.g. it is unsuitable for a young brother and a sister to talk with each other privately in a closed room.).

 

John. 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him "Most assuredly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

YLT: “Jesus answered and said to him `Verily verily I say to thee If any one may not be born from above he is not able to see the reign of God;'”

Meaning of Words: “be born again”: be born from above; be born from the beginning;

Literal Meaning: the particular idiom of that “most assuredly I say to you” was usually employed to express the Lord’s seriousness (see1:51) and to call the hearers’ attention to the fact that what he would say thereafter was important truth. 

“Unless one is born again” the first birth of men is born on earth but the rebirth means to be born from above. One’s natural life is born from the first birth but life of God must be from the rebirth.

“He cannot see the kingdom of God.” ---- “see” does not mean to look at by physical eyes but a kind of personal experience. “To see the kingdom of God” and “to enter the kingdom of God” are similar (v.5). “The kingdom of God” is a sphere governed by God and a realm of divine and holy things. Only life of God can understand things of God so we should be born again to obtain God’s life and after that we can see or enter the kingdom of God.

The answer of the Lord Jesus in this verse seemed to have nothing to do with the question of Nicodemus (v.2) for the Lord had radically denied the seeking direction of Nicodemus ---- he thought that men need only good teaching to reform their walks. But the Lord told him that what really men need was life rather than teaching.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) “To be born again” “again” in the original means “from above” and it shows that “to be born again” is a work absolutely from God.

     2) “To be born again” means that God will make a great and thorough transformation in one’s spirit. If one’s natural life has not been born again he will never know the kingdom of God.

     3) “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ---- Contrarily speaking if one is born again he can see the kingdom of God. Therefore once we were born again we obtained a kind of spiritual sight which enables us to see and understand all the spiritual mysteries of the kingdom of God.

     4) “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ---- It indicates that the kingdom of God is not only a physical realm but a state of life i.e. the reality of Christ the King of the kingdom of God. A natural man is completely separated from Him so rebirth is essentially required.

     5) “Teacher (v.2)” focuses on teaching and learning ---- the outside problem while “rebirth” focuses on the spirit and life ---- the inside problem. Many so-called Christians enter from the gate of the teachers reckoning that he is a Christian since he has known the knowledge of Christianity. Such kind of men goes wrong in the beginning for one should start from rebirth if he wants to be a Christian.

     6) The words of the Lord tell us that no matter how great a man is rebirth is still required. Even though men had never fallen he could not take part in the kingdom of God without rebirth.

     7) Rebirth was neither a kind of reformation or teaching from the outside nor a transformation or conversion outside of life. Rebirth is actually obtaining and entering another new life. It is absolutely a matter of life not of works.

     8) God is intended to let those who are of Him to eat the fruit of the life of tree instead of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (see Gen 2:9 16-17).

     9) Kingdom is in connection with life: if a man wants to live in the kingdom of men he should have a life of men. And if he wants to live in the kingdom of God he should have a life of God.

     10) One can only be born into the kingdom of God. There is no way for anyone to buy into or work into or study into or exercise into it. All those who have been born from above have been translated into the kingdom of God (Col1:13).

 

John. 3:4 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?"

YLT: “Nicodemus saith unto him `How is a man able to be born being old? is he able into the womb of his mother a second time to enter and to be born?'”

Literal Meaning: Nicodemus misunderstood the meaning of rebirth thinking that a man entered a second time into his mother's womb and was born. He said “how can…?” and “can he…?” for he thought it was impossible.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned (1Cor2:14).

     2) With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible (Matt 19:26). If men always think it impossible it stems from their unfaith.

 

John. 3:5 Jesus answered "Most assuredly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

YLT: “Jesus answered `Verily verily I say to thee If any one may not be born of water and the Spirit he is not able to enter into the reign of God;”

The Background: when the Jews received the Gentile believers they should baptize the Gentiles with water: the body of a man who would baptize should be immerged into the water and his filth of idolatry could be cleaned. Then the Jews would call him “a new creature” or “a man born from above”.

Literal Meaning:  “One is born of water and the Spirit” many Bible exegetes interpret “water” according to its symbolical meaning but interpret “the Spirit” in the same sentence according to its literal meaning. But it is obviously contradictory to the principle of Bible exegesis---- if “water” is symbolically interpreted so “the Spirit” should be. If “the Spirit” is literally interpreted so the “water” should be. Therefore in line with the principle of interpretation of Bible here it may have two correct interpretations

1.    “And” in the phrase of “water and the Spirit” in the original is a kind of “epexegetically” structure which is called “hendiadys” in rhetoric. For this reason “and” should be translated “even” i.e. “water is even the Spirit”. Then the whole sentence one is born of water and the Spirit” can be translated into that “one who is born of water is even born of the Spirit”. It can be evidenced by the next verse in which the Lord mentioned only “which is born of the Spirit is spirit (v.6)” and omitted “water”. Therefore one is born of water and the Spirit” means that the function of the Spirit like the function of water ---- water serves to purify the filth and the Spirit serves to purify the sin as well. Such purifying function can only show its effect on those who have really repented and have believing in the Lord.

2.    “One is born of water and the Spirit” can be interpreted that “to obtain the effect of the baptism with water and baptism with the Spirit”. Note that the Lord Jesus here did not regard the baptism with water as a prerequisite ceremony of entering the kingdom of God. Instead He maintained that a man should experience the effect of the baptism with water and baptism with the Spirit personally and practically (in the church history many real Christians had actually undergone the effect of the baptism with water even though they had no chances to baptize with water). The baptism with water typifies a man buries with Christ in baptism in which he has been also raised with Christ (see Col 2:12) so “to be born of water” means a man should have been buried with Christ by baptism into death and have been also raised up from the dead with Christ (see Rom 6:3-4). Whereas the baptism with the Spirit means a man who has believed into Christ has been baptized into Christ’s body (see 1Cor 12:13) so “to be born of the Spirit” indicates that a man should have the experience of being into Christ by faith (see 1Cor 10:2)

Controversial Clarification: in the Christianity many people misunderstand the words of the Lord in this verse so that there arose two extreme views concerning both the baptism with water and baptism with the Spirit:

1.    The baptism with water was so emphasized that it was regarded as a required ceremony of obtaining the rebirth. Some religious sects even held the Sprinkling to the innocent babies to guarantee that they shall be saved. Observe that the baptism with water is only an outward ceremony testifying the inside reality of a man who has truly repented and has believed into the Lord.

2.    The baptism with the Spirit was misinterpreted as the meaning of receiving the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Some religious sects even held that if a believer was not able to speak with tongues he must have not been baptized with the Spirit and have never been saved yet. It should be known that baptism with the Spirit has already been an objectively accomplished fact for in the Lord Jesus we have all been baptized into the body of Christ by His redemption on the cross no matter the Jews or the Gentiles (see 1Cor12:13; Eph2:11-18; 4:4-6). When a man truly repents and has been saved he will subjectively experience the baptism with the Spirit ---- the fact of having been baptized into a member of Christ’s body. At that time he has been taken part in the baptism with the Spirit and is unnecessary to pursue the experience of baptism with the Spirit hereafter.

Spiritual Meaning: “to be born of water” typifies a natural man dies through repentance; while “to be born of the Spirit” typifies the new man is born from above through believing into the Lord.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The spiritual rebirth is the prerequisite for a man to enter the kingdom of God.

     2) Thanks the Lord! We have been buried with Him by baptism unto death and have been raised up with him from among dead ---- to be born of water. Besides we have the indwelling Spirit ---- a man who is born of the Spirit can not only understand the kingdom of God and can enter the reality of the kingdom of God as well enjoying all the fullness therein.

3) He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

4) We have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible through the word of God which lives and abides forever (1Peter 1:23).

 

John. 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

YLT: “that which hath been born of the flesh is flesh and that which hath been born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Literal Meaning: That which is born of the flesh is flesh” the rebirth is not born again from the flesh for even if one could enter a second time into his mother's womb and would be born (v.4) it was still of flesh.

  “Flesh” indicates the weakness and limitation of a man as a creature. Moreover it can also suggest that the Jews can not enter the kingdom of God through the relationship with Abraham according to flesh.

  “And that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” ---- The former spirit refers to the Holy Spirit and the latter refers to the spirit in men. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life (Rom 8:2) who works in those who know their sins and have repented and quickens the spirit of those who were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:5).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” it is by no means to make anyone spiritual with any sort of education and reformation (see Gal 6:15).

2) Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening (James 3:11)? The nature of fountain will determine the life flowing out thereby. Life we live by will determine the witness we bear.

3) All that we possessed before we have been born again was of flesh. What we obtained after our rebirth is of spirit. One’s natural eloquence capability wisdom intelligence and good works are both fleshly and sensual.

     4) We should ask ourselves: “do we serve God with what we possess from natural birth or spiritual rebirth?” The right origin should be mostly emphasized when we serves God.

     5) No matter how many times that a man entered a second time into his mother's womb and was born he would still be flesh. What a man really needs is a new birth of another nature not of another time.

 

John. 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you "You must be born again.'

YLT: “`Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee It behoveth you to be born from above;”

Literal Meaning: "You must be born again." ---- The necessity of rebirth is not for Nicodemus only but for all the man. “Must” indicates that there is no exception.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) If a man has not been reborn he can not be completely changed. Only by the rebirth a man will obtain the divine pure and spiritual life.

     2) One can not truly know obey and please God through his natural strength (Ps 52:5; Jem17:9; Mark7:21-23; 1Cor2:14).

 

John. 3:8 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."

YLT: “the Spirit where he willeth doth blow and his voice thou dost hear but thou hast not known whence he cometh and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit.'”

Literal Meaning: The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it” “wind” and “spirit” in the original are the same word. Here it must refer to “wind” instead of “spirit” for it mentions the sound also.

  “But cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.” ---- Although a man can feel the blowing wind and hear the sound when it blows it is still difficult to understand the invisible wind through his physical sense.

  So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” ---- The spiritual life is characterized by the features as follows: (1) It completely walks in the Spirit (“the wind blows where it wishes”) and the natural men should never meddle in it. (2) It is invisible and unseen (only “the sound of it”). (3) It is hard to comprehend (cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes). (4) From the working of this life (the blowing and the sound) one can confirm that His existence is a fact.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The Holy Spirit has the absolute and surpassing power working according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.

     2) We can not see the working of the Spirit in man but it is true for the effects are apparent and visible.

     3) The rebirth is not physical but spiritual. One can be born again only by the Holy Spirit through the Holy Spirit and in the Holy Spirit.

 

John. 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him "How can these things be?"

YLT: “Nicodemus answered and said to him `How are these things able to happen?'”

Literal Meaning: it was apparently that Nicodemus thought rebirth is a matter of nature and substance and raised the question.

 

John. 3:10 Jesus answered and said to him "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not know these things?

YLT: “Jesus answered and said to him `Thou art the teacher of Israel -- and these things thou dost not know!”

The Background: the necessity of rebirth was early suggested in the Old Testament (see Eze36:24-26).

Literal Meaning: "Are you the teacher of Israel?” ---- “the teacher” means a teacher in a ruling (v.1) position.

 

John. 3:11 Most assuredly I say to you We speak what We know and testify what We have seen and you do not receive Our witness.

YLT: “`Verily verily I say to thee -- What we have known we speak and what we have seen we testify and our testimony ye do not receive;”

Literal Meaning: “we” refers to Lord Jesus and His disciples and someone believes that it is a call for the Trinity. “You” refers to the Jews.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) One should speak for the Lord according to his knowledge about the Lord. And one should bear witness of the Lord in accordance with his experience in the Lord.

     2) May the Lord grant us the true knowledge of Him (Eph 1:17) so that we can preach Him more abundantly; and may the Lord let us see Him as He is (1John3:2 in the original) so that we can bear witness of Him more perfectly.

 

John. 3:12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

YLT: “if the earthly things I said to you and ye do not believe how if I shall say to you the heavenly things will ye believe?”

Literal Meaning: If I have told you earthly things” “earthly things” do not refer to things of the earth but things happening on earth including the talking about rebirth mentioned before (v.3-8) as well as the description about redemption later (see v.14-16)

Likewise “heavenly things” do not refer to things of heaven but things happening in heaven. He is the one who came down from heaven and is in heaven so He knows things in heaven.

 

John. 3:13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven that is the Son of Man who is in heaven.

YLT: “and no one hath gone up to the heaven except he who out of the heaven came down -- the Son of Man who is in the heaven.”

Literal Meaning: He who came down from heaven that is the Son of Man who is in heaven.” ---- It reveals the characters about the Lord Jesus: (1) He was the one who came down from heaven and was the one that the Word became flesh (see1:14). (2) He walked on earth but he is still in heaven. He never belongs to the earth and surpasses the earth. (3) He walks on earth and is still in heaven. Wherever he went the reality of heaven was open thereafter.

  No one has ascended to heaven.” ---- In fact Enoch and Elijah had ascended to heaven (see Gen 5:24; 2King 2:11). Therefore here it means: (1) there has been none who had ever experienced the same ascension as that of the Lord Jesus which is of another nature. (2) Neither has there been anyone who is always living to intercede for people like the Lord Jesus (see Heb 7:24-25).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Christ is entirely of heaven. He walked on earth but lived in a heavenly life. That’s why Christians should also live in a heavenly life when walking on earth.

     2) Christ transcends all the spaces. His being and His works are for the whole universe not only for any single region or group. As the Apostle Paul said: “Christ is both theirs and ours (1Cor 1:2).”

 

John. 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up

YLT: “`And as Moses did lift up the serpent in the wilderness so it behoveth the Son of Man to be lifted up ”

The Background: Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness” the Israel spoke against God when they walked in the wilderness after they came out of Egypt. God sent fiery serpents among the people. The serpents bit the people and much people of Israel died. Later the people confessed their sins and God asked Moses to lift up the serpent of brass who bore the people’s iniquities. If a serpent had bitten any man and he beheld the serpent of brass he lived (Num 21:4-9).

Literal Meaning: even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” “be lifted up” means be crucified on cross (see 12:32). “Even so” reveals that the Lord’s crucifixion on cross like the serpent’s being lifted up on a pole.

Spiritual Meaning: “serpent” meant Satan (see Gen 3:1; Rev12:9). The man was deceived by the serpent and then fell into the “offspring of vipers” (see Matt 3:7). The evil disposition of Satan is deep rooted in men’s flesh but the Lord Jesus is the Word who became flesh (see 1:14). He took a bondman's form and was made in likeness of men (Phil 2:7) but He did not know sin (see 2Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15). Actually he is just like “the serpent of brass” which was lifted up by Moses in the wilderness ---- there was only the shape of the serpent but not the poison of the serpent. When the Lord Jesus who knew no sin was crucified on the cross on one side he bore God’s judgment (brass typifies judgment in the Bible.); and on the other through His death on the cross He might annul him who has the might of death that is the devil (Heb 2:14) thus delivering men from the power of the devil. 

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The redemption of lifting up the serpent of brass by Moses typifies the redemption of the Lord Jesus on the cross:

       a. The death of Israel was caused by the position of the serpents. In like manner the death of the world was caused by sin.

       b. The serpent of brass has the shape of serpent while the Lord Jesus has the likeness of flesh of sin.

       c. The serpent of brass has the shape of the serpent but not the poison of the serpent. The Lord Jesus is a man who has the likeness of flesh but not the corrupted life within.

       d. The serpent of brass was lifted up on the pole and the Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross.

       e. There is only one serpent of brass and there is also only one Savior.

       f. The Israel lived when they looked upon the serpent of brass and the sinners will be born again when they believe into the Lord Jesus.

     2) If there is no redemption we will not pass out of death into life. If we want to be born again we should look upon the redemption accomplished on the cross by the Lord Jesus.

     3) We should look steadfastly on Jesus the leader and completer of faith and run the race that lies before us (Heb 12:1-2).

 

John. 3:15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

YLT: “that every one who is believing in him may not perish but may have life age-during ”

Literal Meaning: that whoever believes in Him” “believe into”: receive (see 1:12); the present tense indicates that this trust is assured and persistent instead of changeable.

  “To have eternal life” men usually pay more attention to the word “eternal” thinking that the eternal life concerns the matter of time or existence. But actually “the eternal death” exists also through all eternity. Therefore the eternal life is not only a matter of time but one more of state and relation etc. The eternal life is life of God ---- the uncreated life which is eternal in time and eternal as well as divine in the nature.

    This verse reveals the truth as below: (1) “Whoever” indicates that anyone is possible to be saved. (2) “Believes in” shows that it is easy to be saved ---- only by believing into Him. (3) “Him” tells us that salvation is in none other than in Him (see Acts 4:12). (4) “To have eternal life” means that one will obtain a treasure of priceless worth after he has been saved.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The Lord Jesus has already done everything that a man should do if he wants to be born again. The only thing we should do is to believe into Him.

     2) To believe into Him is the only way to obtain the eternal life for us. Even if one has known the accomplished redemption of the Lord on the cross he will still be unable to obtain the eternal life if he does not believe into Him.

     3) The rebirth is the beginning of receiving the eternal life and the eternal life is the continuance nature and state of rebirth.

     4) The eternal life is inseparable from Christ. We obtain the eternal life by believing into Christ and obtain the eternal life in Christ.

     5) He that has the Son has life and he that has not the Son of God has not life (1John 5:12). Besides Christ is our life (Col 3:4).

 

John. 3:16 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.

YLT: “for God did so love the world that His Son -- the only begotten -- He gave that every one who is believing in him may not perish but may have life age-during.”

Meaning of Words: “love”: the divine love (“agapao” in the original); “perish”: destroy die and lose;

Literal Meaning: “love” refers to the unconditional and self-giving love of God. “The world” is comprised of the sinful and corrupt men who were made in God’s image and after God’s likeness and were made as vessels for God (see Gen 1:26; Rom 9:21 23). Although they have sinned and fallen God still loves them with His divine love.

  He gave His only begotten Son” God loves the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son who is His manifestation (see 1:18).

  “Should not perish” “perish” in the original means a man has no consciousness or one’s consciousness has stopped. The perishing judgment in Bible carries conscious torment for ever and ever.

  “But have everlasting life” the meaning of “everlasting life” please see the commentary of verse 15.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Martin Luther called the verse “the epitome of gospels”: (1) God is the origin of love. (2) The object of love: men in the world. (3) The way of love: to give the only begotten Son. (4) The effect of love: to make men believe. (5) The result of love: not perish but have everlasting life.

     2) The utmost manifestation of the divine love is to give Christ Jesus. God granted the greatest gift to men ---- His only begotten Son. What can we seek besides Him?

     3) This verse (John 3:16) is the most precious announcement in Bible. A multitude of men had been moved by it and then believed into the Lord. The Holy Spirit saved men by this verse more than any other verse in Bible. Many Christians have assurance of their being saved according to this verse. How miserable that a man reads the Book of John but fails to experience this valuable fact!

     4) We have relations to Christ through “believing into” Him. We believe into Christ in the Spirit and establish the living relations with Christ.

     5) “Should not perish but have everlasting life.” ---- “perish” is the second death (Rev 20:14). “Everlasting life” means the rebirth. If one has only one birth he will have two times of death ---- the fleshy death and the eternal death. If one has the second birth he will have only one time of death. Probably he will never experience the fleshy death if he is taken by God even when he still lives on earth (see 1The 4:17).

 

John. 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.

YLT: “For God did not send His Son to the world that he may judge the world but that the world may be saved through him;”

Meaning of Words: “send”: send out; execute a mission as an authorized delegate; “condemn”: distinguish decide;

Enlightenment in the Word: the principle of Christ is not to condemn but to save and those who follow Christ and serve others shall also be imitators of the Lord

 

John. 3:18 "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.

YLT: “he who is believing in him is not judged but he who is not believing hath been judged already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Literal Meaning: He who believesbut he who does not believe…” the attitude of both “believe” and “not believe” is not transitory but persistent and definite.

Believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” to believe in the Lord’s name means to believe the Lord Himself.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Men can be divided into believers and unbelievers. The condition of men in front of God depends completely on their attitudes toward the only begotten Son of God.

     2) Men is condemned not for the murder or arson but for only one reason ---- that they have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Such people have no proper relations with God. This is the logic of the Holy Bible.

     3) The worst sin is not to believe into the Lord Jesus ---- despise disdain and escape the salvation of God.

 

John. 3:19 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.

YLT: “`And this is the judgment that the light hath come to the world and men did love the darkness rather than the light for their works were evil;”

Meaning of Words: evil”: malicious wicked and hurtful; “condemnation”: judgment;

Literal Meaning: this is the condemnation”: the condemnation here refers to the process of judgment instead of the ultimate adjudication.

Enlightenment in the Word: the world deserves the condemnation for it loves darkness rather than light.

 

John. 3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed.

YLT: “for every one who is doing wicked things hateth the light and doth not come unto the light that his works may not be detected;”

Literal Meaning: For everyone practicing evil hates the light.” ---- “practicing evil” in the original points to that one practices evil repeatedly and habitually rather than occasionally.

  “Lest his deeds should be exposed” they hate light for light can expose one’s evil deeds.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The evil nature of refusing light results in the unbelieving attitude.

     2) Light always threatens the darkness so light is always rejected by darkness.

     3) One’s attitude toward the Lord Jesus will manifest that whether he is of light or darkness.

 

John. 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light that his deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in God."

YLT: “but he who is doing the truth doth come to the light that his works may be manifested that in God they are having been wrought.'”

Literal Meaning: But he who does the truth comes to the light” “doing the truth” is opposite to the “practicing evil” in the previous verse (v.20) so “the truth” refers to the uprightness. He who does the truth is he who believes into and walks in the words of God and trusts in God.

  It is believed by some Bible exegetes that this verse should be translated in this way: “he who comes to the light must do the truth” ---- he can do the truth through the grace and strength of God when he first come to light for he is not able to do the truth by his own strength.

“That his deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in God.” ---- “they have been done in God” means “they have been done according to the being of God”. Such life and works will definitely correspond with the divine light of God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The true Christians are characterized by three features as below: (1) they must do the truth. (2) They must come to the light. (3) They must walk in God.

     2) Only those who love and seek the truth can walk in the truth.

 

John. 3:22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea and there He remained with them and baptized.

YLT: “After these things came Jesus and his disciples to the land of Judea and there he did tarry with them and was baptizing;”

Literal Meaning: “And there He remained with them and baptized.” ---- Actually the Lord Jesus himself did not baptize but his disciples (see 4:2).

 

John. 3:23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.

YLT: “and John was also baptizing in Aenon nigh to Salem because there were many waters there and they were coming and were being baptized --”

Meaning of Words: Aenon”: place of springs; praise;

Literal Meaning: Aenon near Salim” “Aenon” is possibly located in the west side of the Jordan Scythopolis i.e. a place about 13 km south of Nablus.

“Because there was much water there” it suggests that the correct baptism shall immerge one’s body wholly into the water. The Sprinkling does not need such a great deal of water.

 

John. 3:24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

YLT: “for John was not yet cast into the prison --”

Meaning of Words: thrown into”: throw (down) thrust

Literal Meaning: Please see the case of John the Baptist who had been thrown into prison in the Book of Matthew (14:3-5).

 

John. 3:25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification.

YLT: “there arose then a question from the disciples of John with Jews about purifying ”

Literal Meaning: “There arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification.” ---- It is recorded by credible documents that some Jews then showed great interest in the problem that how to really reach the ritual purification.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Religionist likes disputing over the insignificant disagreements about some truth. However most of the disagreements are of little importance.

     2) He who likes strife and contention is apt to be factious (see Titus 3:9-10).

 

John. 3:26 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!"

YLT: “and they came unto John and said to him `Rabbi he who was with thee beyond the Jordan to whom thou didst testify lo this one is baptizing and all are coming unto him.'”

Literal Meaning: John disciples’ envy at the success of the Lord Jesus may stem from their love of their teacher.

 

John. 3:27 John answered and said "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

YLT: “John answered and said `A man is not able to receive anything if it may not have been given him from the heaven;”

Literal Meaning: it has been given to him from heaven” the verb of “give” appears in this book frequently about 76 times.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) This verse is true to the Christians at present. As what has been given to us is the gift of God we should not be jealous of the accomplishment of others.

     2) One’s capability of understanding of God’s things is granted by God (see v.11-12).

     3) Concerning the spiritual things they are not obtained by men’s strength but by the grace of God ---- being bestowed from the heaven. So we should often come to God and look for more grace from Him.

     4) We have unreasonable grounds to be proud of ourselves or to establish the fame from men.

     5) The workers of the Lord should trust in the blessedness of God only rather than haggle with somebody or contend for something for one can obtain nothing without the grace and reward of God.

 

John. 3:28 You yourselves bear me witness that I said "I am not the Christ ' but "I have been sent before Him.'

YLT: “ye yourselves do testify to me that I said I am not the Christ but that I am having been sent before him;”

Literal Meaning: that I said "I am not the Christ.” ---- Please see the commentary of the 20th verse in chapter one (1:20).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) A worker of the Lord should acknowledge the status of his own ---- I am not the Christ but the witness of Christ so all the glory should be given to Christ.

     2) Admittedly we should live Christ and manifest Christ (see Phil1:20) but we are never Christ Himself. Only those who have ambitions may declare that he is Christ (see Mark 13:6).

 

John. 3:29 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.

YLT: “he who is having the bride is bridegroom and the friend of the bridegroom who is standing and hearing him with joy doth rejoice because of the voice of the bridegroom; this then my joy hath been fulfilled.”

Literal Meaning: this verse tells us the right understanding and attitude of “the friend of the bridegroom”: (1) the bridegroom is the one on whom everyone should focus. (2) The friend of the bridegroom is entrusted with the task of introducing the bridegroom; (3) He should consider himself to be the friend of the bridegroom; (4) he should serve the bridegroom in the attitude of “standing”; (5) he should rejoice in the bridegroom's voice and joy.

Spiritual Meaning: the bride” generally refers to the whole Christians i.e. the church (see Eph 5:31-32); “the bridegroom” refers to Christ; “the friend of the bridegroom” refers to John the Baptist.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The joy of Christians comes alone from the joy of the Lord and it is not from the important roles or successful works of their own.

     2) Whenever we hear the voice of the Lord it makes us rejoice contentedly.

     3) “He who has the bride is the bridegroom;” ---- It indicates that the church shall be of Christ and onto Christ. When the friends of the bridegroom who truly bear witness of Christ and serve Christ in the church hear the voice of Christ and see the saints turning to God they will be contentedly joyful.

 

John. 3:30 He must increase but I must decrease.

YLT: “`Him it behoveth to increase and me to become less;”

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) “He must increase but I must decrease.” ---- It is the law of spiritual progress. The true spiritual progress cannot be measured by the increase of one’s Bible knowledge or the length of his Christian years. Instead it can be only measured by the increase of Christ and the decrease of one’s self.

     2) One will progress in his spiritual life when Christ increases in him and fills him whereas his self decreases and is emptied.

     3) The true progress is that one has been taken possession of by Christ instead of one possesses something for his own. Progress is decided by the condition of one’s surrender ---- how much have you put in the hand of God? And does He have the first place in all things of you?

     4) The rebirth will bring about the progressive enlargement of Christ and the increasingly high position of Christ in us ---- “He must increase”. Meanwhile our natural life will become withering piecemeal and the natural men will decrease gradually ---- “I must decrease”.

     5) The giant enemy of a minister is himself. To exalt oneself on high will invariably veil the Lord.

     6) As a bondman of Christ it is unfaithful to Christ if he seeks his own fame and distracts the attention of others from the Lord.

 

John. 3:31 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.

YLT: “he who from above is coming is above all; he who is from the earth from the earth he is and from the earth he speaketh; he who from the heaven is coming is above all.”

Literal Meaning: He who comes from above” refers to the Lord Jesus whose heavenly origin (see 1Cor 15:47) is of great significance for John.

  “Above all” “all” refers to all things and here it specifically refers to all the servants of God.

  “He who is of the earth” it can be generally used to describe any person. But it refers specifically to John the Baptist and his origin.

  “Is earthly” it indicated the nature of John the Baptist.

  “And speaks of the earth” it refers to the teachings of John the Baptist. It means not only that he talked about earthly things but also that what he had said was the earthly words.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) It is good for men to follow the Lord Jesus only but not to the Lord’s servant.

     2) A bondman of Christ should know the Lord entirely and be conscious of his status in front of the Lord as well.

 

John. 3:32 And what He has seen and heard that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.

YLT: “`And what he hath seen and heard this he doth testify and his testimony none receiveth;”

Literal Meaning: And what He has seen and heard that He testifies” it shows that the teaching of the Lord Jesus is from his heavenly experience.

  “And no one receives His testimony.” ---- It does not mean that no one receive the testimony of the Lord Jesus (see v.33) but means that generally the Jews refused to receive Him.

 

John. 3:33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.

YLT: “he who is receiving his testimony did seal that God is true;”

Literal Meaning: He who has received His testimony” to receive the testimony of the Lord means to receive the truth that “He comes from the heaven and descends on earth to fulfill the salvation of God”.

    “Has certified that God is true” when a man sets his seal on a covenant it indicates that the covenant is effective true and unchangeable. The sure conviction of those who believe in the testimony of the Lord Jesus proves that God is true as the seal on the documents does for the words of Jesus are the words of God (v.34).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The testimony of Christ is the testimony of God. To believe into Christ is to believe into God.

     2) A man who had really received the Lord must have been clearly sealed by the Holy Spirit. He who has been clearly sealed by the Holy Spirit will be able to bear witness of the verity of God in his walks.

 

John. 3:34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God for God does not give the Spirit by measure.

YLT: “for he whom God sent the sayings of God he speaketh; for not by measure doth God give the Spirit;”

Literal Meaning: He whom God has sent” refers to the Lord Jesus.

“The words of God” the words of the Lord Jesus is the words of God (see 7:16; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10)

“For God does not give the Spirit by measure.” ---- Someone holds that the Holy Spirit is measureless in the Lord Jesus and someone holds that the Lord Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to His believers measurelessly.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) A real servant of the Lord shall speak the words of God but not speak his own words.

     2) The works of the Spirit of God to the called of His workers are perfect which are sufficient for them to be perfected.

 

John. 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

YLT: “the Father doth love the Son and all things hath given into his hand;”

Literal Meaning: the Father’s love to the Son is manifested in the fact that the Father has given all things into the Son’s hand.

 

John. 3:36 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."

YLT: “he who is believing in the Son hath life age-during; and he who is not believing the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God doth remain upon him.'”

Literal Meaning: He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” “has” in the present tense indicates that everlasting life can be obtained now rather than in the future.

  “The wrath of God abides on him” “the wrath of God” is emphatic in the original expressing the strong objection of God. “Wrath” appears only this time in this book. “Abide” manifests that it is a vain hope for a sinner that the wrath of God may eventually disappear. God deals with the sin incessantly and completely.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) We should not treasure up to wrath of ourselves in day of wrath and revelation of righteous judgment of God (Rom 2:5).

     2) The eternal end of a man is entirely depends on his attitude toward the Son of God.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

I. To Know the Rebirth

A. The necessity of rebirth ---- “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (v.3)”

B. The meaning of rebirth:

  1. The literal meaning is “to be born again” or “to be born from above” (v.3)

  2. One is not reborn by entering a second time into his mother's womb and being born (v.4)

C. The way of rebirth ---- “water and the Spirit (v.5)”

D. The mystery of rebirth ---- just as one cannot tell where the wind comes from and where it goes (v.8)

E. The fact of rebirth ---- it is “earthly things” (v.12)

F. The ground of rebirth ---- the Lord who was lifted up on the cross as Moses lifted up the serpent (v.14)

G. The prerequisite of rebirth ---- by “believing into” Him (v.15)

 

II. The Matter of the Rebirth

  A. Concerning its times ---- it is born again instead of being born for the first time (v.3).

  B. Concerning its origin ---- it is born from above instead of being born from one’s mother's womb (v.3).

  C. Concerning its nature ---- it is born of the Spirit which is spirit rather than being born of the flesh (v.6).

 

III. Three “Must” in This Chapter

  A. One must be born again (v.7). ---- To everyone

  B. The Son of Man must be lifted up (v.14). ---- To the Lord

C. I must decrease (v.30). ---- To one’s self

 

IV. The Great Perfect Thing (v.16)

  A. The great deep love ---- the love of God (see Rom 5:8; 1John 4:9)

  B. The great precious gift ---- the only begotten Son (see Rom 8:32)

  C. The great disastrous sufferings ---- the suffering (see Rev 21:8)

  D. The great pleasant hope ---- the everlasting life (see Rom 6:23; 1Pet 1:4-5)

  E. The great easy salvation ---- believe (see Eph 2:8; 1John 1:12)

F. The great high love ---- the world (see Rev 7:9-10)

 

V. All the “Most” (v.16)

  A. God ---- the supreme sovereignty

  B. Love ---- (1) the sweetest word  

(2) the greatest need of human beings

C. The world ---- (1) the widest sphere  

(2) the most deceitful creature

D. So….that… ---- the widest extent

E. The only begotten Son ---- (1) the most beloved

(2) the most precious grace

  F. Give ---- the most gracious gift

  G. Whoever ---- the largest quantity

  H. Believe ---- the easiest prerequisite

  I. Perish ---- the painful judgment

  J. Everlasting life ---- the richest blessing

 

VI. The Witness of the Lord by John the Baptist and the Apostle John

  A. He is Christ (v.28).

  B. He is the bridegroom (v.29).

  C. He comes from above (v.31).

  D. He is above all (v.31).

E. He has been sent by Christ (v.34).

  F. He speaks the words of God (v. 34)

  G. He does not give the Spirit by measure (v.34)

  H. He is the beloved Son of the Father (v.35)

  I. He has been given all things into His hand (v.35)

  J. He is the one by whom one can obtain the everlasting life (v.36)

 

VII. The Contrast between the Lord Jesus and John the Baptist

  A. One is Christ; and the other is the one who has been sent before Him (v.28).

  B. One is the bridegroom; and the other is the friend of the bridegroom (v.29).

  C. One must increase; and the other one must decrease (v.30).

  D. One is from the heaven; and the other is from the earth (v.31).

 

VIII. The Description of the every aspect Christ

  A. He who comes from above is above all (v.31). ---- The transcendence of Christ

  B. God does not give the Spirit by measure to Christ (v.34). ---- The fullness of Christ

  C. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand (v.39). ---- The sovereignty of Christ

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Mary Zhou