Background knowledge: Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness – Numbers 21:4-9

Questions:

Who is we? “Rabbi, we know…”

What is Jesus answering when he “answered” and started talking about being born again?

Who is “We” when Jesus says, “We speak what We know…” It’s interesting to note that if you compare the different translations of this verse, you see that only the NKJV capitalizes this “we” to show that it refers to God or Jesus. The others don’t, which shows that scholars are not sure to whom it refers exactly.

What does it mean that Nicodemus was a ruler?

“Most assuredly”… is that the same as “truly, truly?”

“So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” What does that refer to? Not telling where coming from or going?

Observations:

Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews and said he and others knew Jesus was from God because of his signs.

Nicodemus keeps asking  how. Then Jesus asks how.

Jesus says you have to be born again and born of water and the Spirit, making a parallel of the two.

Jesus says you MUST be born again.

It keeps saying they answered each other, but there aren’t a lot of answers to the questions.

In order for people to be saved, Jesus MUST be lifted up.

Jesus was sent to save, not condemn.

We are saved THROUGH Christ.

We “see” the kingdom of God if we are born again.

Repeated phrase: that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life

 

My Interpretation

Everyone had to look to the serpent to be forgiven/healed. We have to look to Jesus to be forgiven/healed.

Questions:

Who is “we” here? “Rabbi, we know…”  He’s coming at night. He’s hiding from the other leaders. Either he’s speaking for the people in general, or for the leaders in general, even if they haven’t accepted it. Nicodemus thinks it’s obvious.

What is Jesus answering when he “answered” and started talking about being born again? Jesus must have been answering something of what questioning there was in Nicodemus’ heart. We see that with the woman at the well in John 4.

Who is “We” when Jesus says, “We speak what We know…” Jesus and the Holy Spirit?

“Most assuredly…” is that the same as “truly, truly?”  YES. Turns out that only in John’s gospel does Jesus say, “Truly, truly.” In the other gospels, Jesus just says, “Truly.”

Observations:

Nicodemus wants to know how, but he’s not told. That must not have been the right question. Jesus was giving the what. How isn’t the right question because we can’t save ourselves. There’s no “how” we can do. Salvation is a supernatural work and only God can do it, which is make us born again of water and Spirit. It’s an experience we must have and it starts with looking at Jesus on the cross.

Repeated phrase: Anyone can believe and be saved. It’s for all. The opposite of eternal life is perish.

 

My Applications

Jesus was sent to save, not condemn. What does it mean to be saved? What does it mean to be condemned? If people are going to be condemned, and they are, what did Jesus do? [He made salvation possible, 2 Cor 5:15]

Do you have an experience of looking at Jesus on the cross and being healed (saved/forgiven/released/delivered)?

Is there something in your life now that you are wanting to know the how, how can you make something happen? Can you understand that knowing that you can’t, but God can, is a relief, a comfort, a joy? The first part of the good news is I can’t! The second part is God can. We can’t save ourselves from hell, from ourselves, from our sin, from being entangled in the world, from so many things. But God can do it all.

Do you believe you have eternal life? Do you believe you will not perish?

 

Further Study/Thought: “So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” What does that refer to? Not telling where coming from or going?