For God So Loved the World...

Ryrie

• (1) Nicodemus was “a member of the Sanhedrin. He perfectly represents the aristocratic, well-intentioned but unenlightened Judaism of his day.”

• (2) Nicodemus came at night “perhaps because of fear or simply because he wanted uninterrupted time with Jesus.”

• (3) “born again” is literally “born from above.” The word “from above” also means “again.” “Both ideas (merged in John's gospel) are combined in the translation 'be born anew.' The new birth, or regeneration, is the act of God that gives eternal life to the one who believes in Christ. As a result, be becomes a member of God's family with a new capacity and desire to please his heavenly Father.”

• (5) “Various interpretations have been suggested for the meaning here of 'water': (1) it refers to baptism as a requirement for salvation. However, this would contradict many other NT passages (Eph 2:8-9); (2) it stands for the act of repentance that John the Baptizer's baptism signified; (3) it refers to natural birth (specifically, the fluid released when the amniotic sac breaks prior to labor; thus it means 'unless one is born the first time by water and the second time by the Spirit'; (4) it means the Word of God, as in 15:3; (5) it is a synonym for the Holy Spirit and may be translated, 'by water, even the Spirit.' One truth is clear: the new birth is from God through the Spirit.”

• (8) “The Greek word pneuma means both wind and spirit.”

• (11) “The witness, or testimony, theme is found throughout John.”

• (14) The reference here is to Num 21:5-9

• (16) eternal life is “a new quality of life, not an everlasting 'this-life.'”

• (16) “Here begins another major theme of John: the dual one of redemption and judgment. It reappears at 5:22; 8:15; 9:39; 12:47. Here the emphasis is on the fact that men judge themselves. The acquitted are those who have believed in Him; the condemned are those who have rejected Him.”

• (21) truth = that which is true or right.

Henry

• Nicodemus

  • “This was a man of the Pharisees, bred to learning, a scholar. Let it not be said that all Christ's followers are unlearned and ignorant men. The principles of the Pharisees, and the peculiarities of their sect, were directly contrary to the spirit of Christianity; yet there were some in whom even those high thoughts were cast down and brought into obedience to Christ. The grace of Christ is able to subdue the greatest opposition.”

  • “He was a ruler of the Jews, a member of the great sanhedrim, a senator, a privy-counsellor, a man of authority in Jerusalem. Bad as things were, there were some rulers well inclined, who yet could do little good because the stream was so strong against them; they were over-ruled by the majority, and yoked with those that were corrupt, so that the good which they wished to do they could not do; yet Nicodemus continued in his place, and did what he could, when he could not do what he would.”

• “He resolved to talk with him by himself, where he might be free with him. Personal converse with skilful faithful ministers about the affairs of our souls would be of great use to us, Mal. ii. 7."

• Nicodemus' coming by night could be either:

  • “As an act of prudence and discretion. Christ was engaged all day in public work, and he would not interrupt him then, nor expect his attendance then, but observed Christ's hour, and waited on him when he was at leisure.”

  • “As an act of zeal and forwardness. Nicodemus was a man of business, and could not spare time all day to make Christ a visit, and therefore he would rather take time from the diversions of the evening, or the rest of the night, than not converse with Christ. “

  • “As an act of fear and cowardice. He was afraid, or ashamed, to be seen with Christ, and therefore came in the night. When religion is out of fashion, there are many Nicodemites, especially among the rulers, who have a better affection to Christ and his religion than they would be known to have.”

• Regardless of why Nicodemus came at night, note that “Christ bade him welcome, accepted his integrity, and pardoned his infirmity; he considered his temper, which perhaps was timorous, and the temptation he was in from his place and office; and hereby taught his ministers to become all things to all men, and to encourage good beginnings, though weak.”

• Note also that, while Nicodemus came this time at night, “yet afterwards, when there was occasion, he owned Christ publicly, ch. vii. 50; xix. 39. The grace which is at first but a grain of mustard-seed may grow to be a great tree.”

• “Now sinners are dead men upon a twofold account:— (1.) As one that is mortally wounded, or sick of an incurable disease, is said to be a dead man, for he is dying; and so Christ came to save us, by healing us, as the brazen serpent healed the Israelites, v. 14, 15. (2.) As one that is justly condemned to die for an unpardonable crime is a dead man, he is dead in law; and, in reference to this part of our danger, Christ came to save as a prince or judge, publishing an act of indemnity, or general pardon, under certain provisos; this saving here is opposed to condemning, v. 16-18.”

• “The guilt of sin is like the pain of the biting of a fiery serpent; the power of corruption is like the venom diffused thereby. The devil is the old serpent, subtle at first (Gen. iii. 1), but ever since fiery, and his temptations fiery darts, his assaults terrifying, his victories destroying.”

• “Thirdly, The way of applying this remedy, and that is by believing, which plainly alludes to the Israelites' looking up to the brazen serpent, in order to their being healed by it. If any stung Israelite was either so little sensible of his pain and peril, or had so little confidence in the word of Moses as not to look up to the brazen serpent, justly did he die of his wound; but every one that looked up to it did well, Num. Xxi. 9.”

• “The salvation offered is complete. (1.) They shall not perish, shall not die of their wounds; though they may be pained and ill frightened, iniquity shall not be their ruin. But that is not all. (2.) They shall have eternal life. They shall not only not die of their wounds in the wilderness, but they shall reach Canaan (which they were then just ready to enter into); they shall enjoy the promised rest.”

• “The love of God the Father is the original of our regeneration by the Spirit and our reconciliation by the lifting up of the Son.”

• The fact that Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father “magnifies his love in giving him for us, in giving him to us; now know we that he loves us, when he has given his only-begotten Son for us, which expresses not only his dignity in himself, but his dearness to his Father; he was always his delight.”

• “[God the Father] not only sent [His Son] into the world with full and ample power to negotiate a peace between heaven and earth, but he gave him, that is, he gave him up to suffer and die for us, as the great propitiation or expiatory sacrifice.”

• “The Jews vainly conceited that the Messiah should be sent only in love to their nation, and to advance them upon the ruins of their neighbours; but Christ tells them that he came in love to the whole world, Gentiles as well as Jews, 1 John ii. 2.”

• “Though many of the world of mankind perish, yet God's giving his only-begotten Son was an instance of his love to the whole world, because through him there is a general offer of life and salvation made to all.”

• “It is the unspeakable happiness of all true believers, for which they are eternally indebted to Christ, (1.) That they are saved from the miseries of hell, delivered from going down to the pit; they shall not perish. God has taken away their sin, they shall not die; a pardon is purchased, and so the attainder is reversed. (2.) They are entitled to the joys of heaven: they shall have everlasting life. The convicted traitor is not only pardoned, but preferred, and made a favourite, and treated as one whom the King of kings delights to honour.”

• “Ever since man sinned, he has dreaded the approach and appearance of any special messenger from heaven, as being conscious of guilt and looking for judgment: We shall surely die, for we have seen God. If therefore the Son of God himself come, we are concerned to enquire on what errand he comes: Is it peace? Or, as they asked Samuel trembling, Comest thou peaceably? And this scripture returns the answer, Peaceably.”

Reflecting God

• (2) “Perhaps Nicodemus was afraid to come by day. Or he may have wanted a long talk, which would have been difficult in the daytime with the crowds around Jesus.”

• (3) “The Greek also may mean 'born from above.' Both meanings are consistent with Jesus' redeeming work.”

• (5) The phrase “born of water and the Spirit” is “understood in various ways: 2. It means much the same as 'born of the Spirit.' 2. Water here refers to purification. 3. Water refers to baptism – that of John (1:31) or that of Jesus and his disciples (v 22; 4:1-2).”

• (7) The Greek for “you” is plural. “This assertion applies to everyone, not just Nicodemus.”

• (7) “must” indicates that “there are no exceptions.”

• (8) “The Holy Spirit is sovereign. He works as he pleases in his renewal of the human heart.”

• (11) “The plural associates others, perhaps the disciples, with Jesus. The words are true of Christians as well as of Christ.”

• (11) 1:7

• (13) “Son of Man” was “Jesus' favorite self-designation.”

• (14) 12:31-32

• (15) 1:7 “believes”

• (15) eternal life refers to “an infinitely high quality of life in living fellowship with God – both now and forever.”

• (16) “God so loved the world” is “the great truth that motivated God's plan of salvation.”

• (16) world refers to “all people on earth – or perhaps all creation.”

• (16) “Although believers are also called 'sons of God,' Jesus is God's Son in a unique sense.”

• (18) “Jon is not speaking of momentary beliefs and doubts but of continuing, settled attitudes.”