भाष्य सध्या फक्त इंग्रजीत उपलब्ध आहे. मराठी भाषांतर प्रगतीपथावर आहे.
John 3 — Ye Must Be Born Again
Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night, and Jesus speaks the most famous words in the Bible. The chapter that names the new birth, contains John 3:16, and ends with John the Baptist's final testimony.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
— John 3:16
- v.1-2 Nicodemus comes by night
- v.3-8 You must be born again — the new birth
- v.9-13 Earthly things and heavenly things
- v.14-15 The serpent lifted up — a picture of the cross
- v.16-21 God so loved the world
- v.22-30 John the Baptist: He must increase, I must decrease
- v.31-36 He that hath the Son hath life
"Verily, verily" — Greek amen, amen. An emphatic declaration. Jesus uses this formula only when something demands urgent attention.
Born again — Greek anothen, which can mean "again" or "from above." Both meanings apply. The new birth is a second birth, and it is birth from above.
"Cannot see" — without the new birth, the kingdom of God is invisible. It is not understood, not perceived, not entered. The spiritual world requires spiritual sight.
You cannot raise the flesh to a spiritual level by effort. Flesh produces flesh. Religion produces religion. Only the Spirit produces spirit.
This is why salvation cannot be earned by works — works are flesh-born, no matter how good.
A reference to Numbers 21:6-9. When Israel was bitten by serpents in the wilderness, God told Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it on a pole. Whoever looked at it lived.
Jesus claims to be the fulfillment — He is lifted up on the cross, and whoever looks to Him in faith lives.
The serpent (a symbol of sin) made of brass (a symbol of judgment) — Christ became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21) and bore the judgment.
The Bible in one verse. Every word matters.
God — the Source. Loved — the motive. The world — the object (not just Israel, not just a chosen elite). Gave — the action. His only begotten Son — the gift. Whosoever believeth — the condition. Should not perish — the rescue. Everlasting life — the result.
"So loved" — Greek houtos means "in this manner" more than "this much." God loved like this — by giving His Son.
Condemnation is not a future verdict for unbelievers — it is the present reality. "Condemned already." Rejecting Christ is not just refusing salvation; it is choosing condemnation.
Belief in His name is the deciding factor. Not church attendance, not heritage, not morality — His name.
John the Baptist's entire ministry summarized in seven words. The greatest born among women (Matthew 11:11) understood his role: get smaller so Christ gets bigger.
The mark of a true servant of God: not threatened by others gaining what looks like "his" audience. Joyful in the bridegroom's rising.
The most sobering verse-pair in the chapter. Eternal life is had by the believer — present tense.
"The wrath of God abideth" — present, ongoing. It is not God deciding to be wrathful at the unbeliever. The wrath is already there, abiding, until faith removes it.
No matter how religious, how moral, how good, how educated — Jesus says you must be born again. Have you been? This is not about church membership or family heritage. It is the supernatural work of the Spirit making your dead spirit alive in Christ. If you have never settled this, settle it today.
The whole chapter is Christ explaining Christ. The brass serpent of Numbers — fulfilled in His being lifted up. The love of God — proven in His being given. Eternal life — found only in His name.
Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin — the supreme religious council of Israel. He was as religious as a man could be.
Yet Jesus tells this most religious man that he must be born again. Religion does not save. The new birth does.
Nicodemus appears three times in John: here (chapter 3), defending Jesus (7:50-52), and helping bury Him (19:39). He moved from secret to public over time.