John 2:23 "Jesus was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did." The setting for the account of Nicodemus
John 3:1 "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." First we notice that the man was a ruler of the Pharisees wherein the tenth verse further describes him as a master in this religion. In other words, the man had a master’s degree in the law. Therefore he knew the things whereof Jesus was speaking, just as those recorded in Matthew twenty-one, thirty-two. This being so, we can see that he, having came by night, was unwilling at this time to give up his position in the law. No doubt as a lawyer, he also had the knowledge of Psm 61:1 and quoted in Luke 4:18: ‘because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel.’ Vs 3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born (1080) again (509), he cannot see the kingdom of God." Notice the word born, which can bear the meaning Nicodemus attempted to use, as being brought forth from the mother womb (Mt 19:12), but then the use of the word again refutes his argument for it indicates that it came not as a natural birth, but from above as we see in James 1:17 (every perfect gift is from above) and 3:17 (the wisdom that is from above is first pure). This Pharisee knows more than what he is letting us know at this time. The birth under consideration can be further defined by 1 Jh 5:4. Romans 12:3, also further defines the born from above given to each of those betrothed, added to the church a gift whereby they have a responsibility therein as the body of Christ, his bride. Rev 1:5 ‘Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood’. This washing is the Passover blood of the man Jesus, shed externally in the first three hours, and not the atonement blood shed internally in the last three hours. It is the blood of the new covenant recorded in Hebrews 10:29 that can be despised by those who deny the truth and therefore become liars. We are told in John 8:44 that as liars they are of their father the devil. Not that they are not children of God, but in as much as they have known the truth and did despite unto it they are then said to be of their father the devil. Judas falls into this definition of being of his father the devil. Vs 4 "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Again we find Nicodemus knows his argument is weak, for as stated above he knew the scriptures, therefore he should be able to understand the meaning of the word again as Jesus had presented it to him. He was not willing at this time to confess this because of his position in the pharisaic religion. It is my understanding that the appointed time (Ha 2:3,4), was when Jesus would remind them ‘what was written before’, and it should have given him the understanding of what would to be involved in the new birth. The ‘whatsoever is born’ would not be given until the completion of the cannons and the end of the sign gifts. That is, the work of the Holy Ghost as the administrator of the new covenant unto those called (Mt 22:11-14) to the wedding feast, adding them to the church (Acts 2:40). John 15:26 "when the Comforter is come". Yes, even his own apostles could not understand what was to be accomplished in the atoning work upon the cross (Mk 8:21). In order to understand this, they must wait until the promise given to Abraham, spoken of in Gal 3:19 and Luke 24:49: "I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until (Pentecost) ye be endued with power from on high." We find in Heb 11:39 that up unto this time "These all, having obtained a good report through faith (found in the fruit of the spirit, not the whatsoever), received not the promise." What was the promise? It was the ability given through the administration of the new covenant, (1 Jh 2:20) unto the recipient thereof the basic doctrines of the true church; that is, what was accomplished on the cross. (Jh 5:4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth (n) that Jesus is the Son of God?" Not all of God’s children have been given this responsibility, and to suffer with their husband Jesus, as witnesses of the truth. Matt 13:11 ‘It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.’ Who are the ‘hath and hath not’s’? (1 Jh 2:19,20) Vs 19 are the ‘hath not’s’ and vs 20 are the ‘hath’s’. The ‘hath’s’ are the little flock or the remnant that shall not bow to the image of Baal. They are those who are called to suffer with Jesus for bearing witness of the truth.
　
5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born (notice here the word again, which is seen above, is not used here) of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." The phrase ‘born of the Spirit’ refers back to verse three, wherein one is delivered from the works of the law, which establishes the true belief in them. It is my understanding that the water and the spirit under consideration here in verse five related to the teachings of 2:7 where the water was changed into wine (purifying pots). This beginning of miracles was the witnesses as defined in 1Jh 5:6,8, and Rev 22:1 as the gospel, resonating with the truth established by law written in the heart from vs 3. When one of God’s called ministers are blessed by fruitful study of the word (water), and empowered by the spirit it is indeed as the water which is turned into wine (living waters) springing forth from inner man. It is these who will come to him in the way of truth, for they are taught by this inner knowledge (6:45 nc), springing up unto everlasting life. This everlasting life is not speaking of something yet to come, but HE is now abiding in those who have been added to the church. Acts 13:46,48, Jh 4:14. Having said this, we realize that not all of those betrothed unto the son of man, who will take up their cross and abide in him (1 Jh 2:25,7). There is a remnant of these that God (so to speak) puts bits in their mouths (Isa 37:29) and turns them about whether so ever he will, less we all had been as Sodom (Isa 1:9, Rom 9:29). As we study the scriptures, sometimes we find it literally comes alive, resonating with the word which is written upon the heart. The chastening rod upon our conscience will draw those so moved by the inner man to abide in the truth. 1 Cor 4:15 ‘Ye have not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.’ Philem 10 ‘I have begotten in my bonds.’
Summary: First those chosen as witnesses are born again (regenerated from above Mt 19:28), having now the living word within: the preacher is then able by the water (written, preached word), ignites the spirit, to bring to deliverance, birth, that which lies within. Remember only those betrothed, added unto the church bride as defined in verse three will be able to relate to verse five. This being not all of his children, only the bride.
Vs 7 "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." This is simply stating that the work of verse three (born again) whereby the Holy Ghost in the administration of the new covenant, adding those betrothed unto the son of man, is as the wind. Sometimes it comes as a gentle breeze and at other times it comes as a great storm, which guides and direct the recipients thereof in search of the truth that has been written in their hearts.
Vs 9 "Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" Even though Nicodemus, to my understanding was a child of God, yet inasmuch as the Holy Ghost was not yet given, could not understand what was to come in John 14:26 ‘He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ We find this further defined in John 6:44 ‘No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last (gospel) day.’ "It is written in the prophets (Jer 31:31), and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." He therefore could not comprehend the lesson, as he was viewing it from the flesh as all of those under the old covenant would reason (Gal 4:23). Jesus further states that Nicodemus could not fully understand the concept of the word ‘again’ (from above), since the witness from within had not yet been given. We find in John 20:22: ‘Receive ye the Holy Ghost,’ that there was a limited knowledge given unto the apostles before the day of Pentecost, yet they fail to understand the completed work which was in some degree understood by the resurrection.
Vs 13 "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." This statement seems to be out of place, but it again emphasizes the word ‘again’, as the point of origin of the faith, which was to come unto the ‘whatsoever’ is born of God, again as defined in verse three. In as much as this had not taken place at the time of this lesson then it stand to reason why Nicodemus was at loss to fully understand what Jesus was teaching him. He could see, according to the Old Testament, that Jesus was the Messiah but the new birth was beyond his ability to understand in as much as it had not yet been given. ‘It is written in the prophets (Jer 31:31), and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.’ (Heb 8:11)
Vs 14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (present tense)." These two verses are the prelude to the lesson that is to follow. The thought is that only those bitten by the serpents had a need or desire to look upon the brazen serpent. Likewise only those who by experience have seen their own depravity (Rom 7:9) will have an understanding or need of a Savour. Therefore it is this world that will be in the following lesson. This world includes only the betrothed bride of the son of man, and not all of the children of God. Having seen it, some will yet die in their sins, because they refuse to submission to this truth.
Vs 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth (involuntary ~ now) in him should not perish, but have (present tense) everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world (Jh 1:12); but that the world (Jews) through him might be saved. He that believeth (Jh 1:12) on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not (Jh 1:11) is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." This world has been given the power to overcome (1 Jh 5:4) the world of false teachers, and therefore should, (notice it does not say shall, or will) not perish. John 12:47 ‘I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.’ This is the same lesson taught in Eph 6:13 concerning the putting on of the whole armor of God, wherein we are able to persevere in the faith. If you will notice also that he came to save this world, for the very purpose that his name should be glorified in the earth, not to condemn it. If this world, to whom he came to save rejects it (Mt 21:32, Jh 1:11) and turns from Him, are condemned already because they have counted the blood of the new covenant an unholy thing and did despite to the spirit of grace (Heb 6:4, 10:29). Remember this is a timely conditional lesson to those who have been called as witnesses of the truth here in time. Where much is given, much is required.
Vs 19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 1:8 "He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Yes he came unto his own world, not to condemn but to give the light of the knowledge of the truth. Many of them rejected the council against themselves (Mt 21:32, Lk 7:30) "He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:21) John 12:36 "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." We find this condition in Acts 13:46 wherein the Jews had judged themselves unworthy of this (light) everlasting or eternal life, and Paul then turns his attention unto the Gentiles. The condemnation herein is the same as founded in Heb 6:4 and 10:29 where having seen the light, rejects it. The witness that Nicodemus had was his works and word as taught in: John 5:36 ‘The same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.’ John 10:25 ‘The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.’ John 10:32 ‘Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?’ John 10:37 ‘If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. but if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works : that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.’ John 14:11 ‘…else believe me for the very works ' sake.’ John 15:24 ‘If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.’
Vs 22 "After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized." Jesus not leaves Jerusalem after the first Passover (01/22/5957), and goes to the same area near to where, "John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized." Vs 24 "For John was not yet cast into prison." If we do not take into account this statement, as we read in Mt 4:12, Mk 1:14, Lk 4:14 the time element will be misunderstood, because John record places the temptation much later (Jh 1:26,35, & Jh 2:1). The temptation would be after the event recorded up to the time found here in 3:24. It is my understanding that the time of Jesus’ baptism was at the end of F. of T. 7/22/5956 at least 6 mo. earlier.
　
Vs 25 "Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying." Let us pause and take a look at what is really under consideration herein for we have already learned that the water, which was turned into wine, was accomplished in the vessels of purification. We also find 1 Chron 23:27 that the ‘Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above: for the purpose of the service of the house of the LORD, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God.’ While under the old covenant the priest was to use (Heb 9:13) the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh.’ Under the new covenant we find that (vs 14) it is ‘the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Yes as the husband and high priest he (Acts 15:8) which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.’ These selfrighteous Jews not doubt thought that John’s baptism would accomplish the purification found under the old covenant. Peter in 3:21 was also refuting this idea for it is not the cleansing of sinful flesh as the Jews supposed, but an answer of the purged conscience.
Vs 26 "And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him." These Jews are so determined to create something between John and Jesus they came to John with the lofty title of Rabbi and informed him they this Jesus was attempting to draw disciples away from John. Just how ignorant can they get. John simply informed them again after having born witness to then already, that he was only a messenger of Jesus, and he would decrease, being only the best man, or friend and not the bride. A few verses down (4:2) ‘and Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples’ were doing the baptizing.
Vs 29 "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." John’s joy was fulfilled in seeing his friend increase in the eyes of the bride, while he was content to simply fade from the picture and give the bride the opportunity to lean upon her husband’s breast.
Vs 31 "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony." Jesus being from above is above all, even his bride, but we are of the earth (Adam) and corrupt speaking only thing of the earth. The only way even one who is bride can rise above this is to be clothed in her husband’s righteousness.
Vs 33 "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." Yes Jesus was full of the spirit, but we as the bride are only dealt a measure of the spirit, faith. "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things (1 Cor 15:27) into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." This verse further emphasis verse eighteen, wherein one who has received this eternal life, must abide in it or loose it. This gift of eternal life is give that we may give honor and glory unto our husband.
　
Allen Cook 9:22:08 Rev 08/08/2009