THE NEW BIRTH. JOHN'S TESTIMONY TO JESUS 1-15. Conversation with Nicodemus. The ministry at Jerusalem, though disappointing, was not fruitless. Christ's miracles and teaching had made an impression, not only on Nicodemus, but as Nicodemus himself says (John 3:2, cp. John 12:42), on other members of... [ Continue Reading ]
A RULER] i.e. a member of the Sanhedrin. 2, 3. Nicodemus had asked no question, but Jesus knew what he wished to ask, viz. 'If Thou art the Messiah, as some of us are inclined to believe, tell us how we must enter that Kingdom of God, which Thou hast come to establish, and of which Thou hast said so... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW CAN A MAN] Nicodemus is unwilling to believe that he, an orthodox and pious Jew, and withal a ruler and a Pharisee, must undergo so radical a change, before he can enter Christ's Kingdom. He therefore affects to misunderstand Christ's words: cp. John 6:52.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WATER AND _of_ THE SPIRIT] Our Lord again insists that a new birth is necessary, and explains that it must be an inward and spiritual one. It must not be only of 'water,' i.e. the reception of the outward rite of baptism without proper appreciation of what membership of Christ's Kingdom involves,... [ Continue Reading ]
The nature we inherit from our parents is corrupt; the new nature which comes with the new birth is holy and spiritual.... [ Continue Reading ]
As none can trace the source or aim of the wind, yet all can hear and feel it, so is it with those who have experienced the new birth. There is something in the inner life not to be explained, but which reveals itself in its operations, and can be known only by experience.... [ Continue Reading ]
'You a teacher in Israel, and this, without which all religion is a dead thing, not known to you!'... [ Continue Reading ]
WE] Probably St. John and a few other disciples were present.... [ Continue Reading ]
EARTHLY THINGS] i.e. religious facts and experiences (e.g. repentance, faith, the new birth, etc.), which happen upon this earth, and which are, therefore, comparatively easy to apprehend. HEAVENLY THINGS] i.e. the hidden and unfathomable counsels of God for human salvation, e.g. the Incarnation, an... [ Continue Reading ]
ASCENDED] This word is not to be taken quite literally. Our Lord only means that He had been in heaven before His Incarnation, and hence could speak of heavenly things (i.e. the Father's most secret counsels) from personal experience. WHICH IS IN HEAVEN] Some important authorities omit these words,... [ Continue Reading ]
See Numbers 21:6. As the children of Israel, bitten by the fiery serpents, were cured by looking at the brazen serpent, so sinners may receive remission of sins and eternal life by looking with faith at Jesus, who was 'lifted up,' first upon the cross, and afterwards into heaven: cp. John 8:28; John... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'that whosoever believeth may in Him have eternal life.' ETERNAL LIFE] This expression, though found in the other Gospels (Matthew 19:16, etc.) and in the Pauline Epistles (Romans 2:7, etc.), is specially characteristic of St. John. It is that state of blissful communion with God, which is enjoy... [ Continue Reading ]
CONDEMN] lit. 'judge' (RV), but the context shows that an unfavourable judgment is meant.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS CONDEMNED (lit. 'hath been judged') ALREADY] God's judgment upon men's actions is a present fact; He judges men here and now. The publication of His judgment, however, will not take place until the Last Day. THE NAME] i.e. (practically) the Person.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION (RV 'judgment')] i.e. the condemnation is based upon this, that the Light is come into the world, etc. It is implied that men whose deeds are really good, are irresistibly attracted by Christ's words and works, so that they become believers.... [ Continue Reading ]
To 'do the truth,' means to live the Christian life, for Christian truth is more than a belief, it is a way of life. The phrase is peculiar to St. John: cp. 1 John 1:6. 22-36. Jesus leaves Jerusalem and baptises in the country districts of Judæa, where He probably spent most of the time from the Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
BAPTIZED] Our Lord baptised only through the ministry of His disciples (John 4:2). The synoptists represent Christian baptism as not ordained till after the Resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16); but here it is said to have been practised from the beginning of the ministry. The two accounts are n... [ Continue Reading ]
ÆNON] lit. 'full of springs,' is generally located 8 m. S. of Scythopolis, near Salim (Salumias) and the Jordan.... [ Continue Reading ]
This v. corrects the impression which the synoptic narrative produces, that John was imprisoned immediately after our Lord's baptism. As a matter of fact, the two ministries overlapped by several months, perhaps by a whole year.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS] RV 'a Jew.' Perhaps the Jew was a disciple of Jesus, and the dispute was about the comparative cleansing power of John's baptism and Christ's.... [ Continue Reading ]
'Do not wonder at the success of Jesus. No man can usurp what heaven has not granted him.'... [ Continue Reading ]
By Jewish custom 'the friend of the bridegroom' arranged the marriage contract between the bridegroom and the bride, and presided at the wedding feast. This John did for Jesus, by preparing the Jewish people (the bride) to receive our Lord's teaching. 31-36. Not, as some think, a reflection of the e... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ's teaching is as superior to John's as the heavens are higher than the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN] a rhetorical overstatement. John deplores that the number of Christ's followers, though great, is as nothing compared with what it ought to be.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT GOD IS TRUE (lit. 'truthful')] To believe the Messiah is to believe God, for the Messiah is God's ambassador and interpreter (see the next v.).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD (RV 'he') GIVETH] This may either mean 'for Christ giveth not the Spirit by measure (to believers),' or, 'for God giveth not the Spirit by measure (to Christ).'... [ Continue Reading ]
BELIEVETH NOT] RV 'obeyeth not.'... [ Continue Reading ]