John 3:1-21

John 3:1-21

Jesus and Nicodemus
1 There was a man from the Pharisees (A) named Nicodemus, (B) a ruler (C) of the Jews. 2 This man came to Him at night and said, " Rabbi, (D) we know that You have come from God (E) as a teacher, (F) for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him." (G)
3 Jesus replied, " I assure you: Unless someone is born again, (H) [a] he cannot see the kingdom of God." (I)

4 "But how can anyone be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked Him. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?"

5 Jesus answered, " I assure you: Unless someone is born (J) of water and the Spirit, (K) [b] he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6Whatever is born of the flesh (L) is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit (M) is spirit. 7Do not be amazed that I told you that you [c] must be born (N) again. 8The wind [d] blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. (O) So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (P)

9 "How can these things be?" asked Nicodemus.

10"Are you a teacher [e] of Israel and don't know these things?" Jesus replied. 11" I assure you: (Q) We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you [f] do not accept Our testimony. [g] 12If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? 13No one has ascended (R) into heaven (S) except the One who descended from heaven (T) —the Son of Man. (U) [h] 14Just as Moses (V) lifted up the snake in the wilderness, (W) so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15so that everyone who believes in Him will [i] have eternal life. (X)

16"For God loved (Y) the world in this way: He gave His One and Only (Z) Son, (AA) so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (AB) 17For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge (AC) the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, (AD) but anyone who does not believe is already judged, (AE) because he has not believed in the name (AF) of the One and Only Son (AG) of God.

19"This, then, is the judgment: the light (AH) has come into the world, (AI) and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone who practices wicked things hates (AJ) the light and avoids it, [j] so that his deeds (AK) may not be exposed. 21But anyone who lives by [k] the truth comes to the light, so that his works (AL) may be shown to be accomplished by God." [l]

In reading commentary, it is suggested by most that Nicodemus went to Jesus by night because he didn't want anyone to know that he was there. This man was a pharisee. They were known to be outwardly moral, prideful that they were not like other sinners, and were rigidly outspoken about following the laws of the elders--the OT. (see topical study on pharisees)

When reading about being born both of water and of spirit, I understand the born of spirit part, but is the born of water meant to represent baptism or is it when we are born as a baby? I really thought it meant being born as a baby, but the commentaries that I've read all seem to say that it means water baptism. It makes me wonder if this is where the controversy between those who say that you must be baptised in order to BE saved and those who say that it is just an act of obedience, but not necessary.

Vs 14 & 15 refers to Numbers 21:4-9
The Bronze Serpent
4 Then they set out from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to bypass the land of Edom, but the people [a] became impatient because of the journey. 5 The people spoke against God and Moses: "Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!" 6 Then the LORD sent poisonous [b] snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died. (A)
7 The people then came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so that He will take the snakes away from us." And Moses interceded for the people.
8 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake [image] and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover. (B) 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.

Just as the Israelites in the wilderness, if we do not "look upon our Savior" or accept and believe that Jesus is the one who died on the cross for our sins, we will die and NOT recover, but if we believe and accept Him we will live eternally.

It really doesn't matter how we come to Jesus, AMEN? But it does matter that we make our Salvation public (Mark 8:38 (NIRV) "Suppose you are ashamed of me and my words among these adulterous and sinful people. Then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

It wasn't really recorded in John 3 whether Nicodemus accepts Jesus as the Messiah or not, but later John reveals that he made his association public (John 7:50-53).

John 2: 13-25

John 2:13-25

Cleansing the Temple Complex
13 The Jewish Passover (A) was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (B) 14 In the temple complex (C) He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and [He also found] the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords, (D) He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep (E) and oxen. He also poured out the money changers' coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, "Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father's (F) house (G) into a marketplace!" (H) [a]
17 And His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal (I) for Your house will consume (J) Me. (K) (L)

18 So the Jews replied to Him, "What sign [of authority] will You show us for doing these things?"

19 Jesus answered, "Destroy this sanctuary, (M) and I will raise it up in three days." (N)

20 Therefore the Jews said, "This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?" (O)

21 But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body. (P) 22 So when He was raised from the dead, (Q) His disciples remembered that He had said this. (R) And they believed the Scripture (S) and the statement Jesus had made.

23 While He was in Jerusalem (T) at the Passover Festival, (U) many trusted in His name (V) when they saw the signs He was doing. 24 Jesus, however, would not entrust Himself to them, since He knew them all 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify about man; for He Himself knew what was in man. (W)


I did not understand the wording in vs 17 "Zeal for Your house will consume Me," until I read Numbers 25. That passage really helped me to understand the 'why' of what Jesus
did in the temple.

The next verse part that "spoke to me" was vs 24 & 25. It is a predicate to the following scripture (also found in John, so when we get there, I'll probably refer back to this post)
John 10:22-30
Jesus at the Festival of Dedication
22 Then the Festival of Dedication [c] took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 Jesus was walking in the temple complex in Solomon's Colonnade. (V) [d] 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and asked, "How long are You going to keep us in suspense? [e] If You are the Messiah, (W) tell us plainly." (X) [f]
25"I did tell you and you don't believe," Jesus answered them. "The works (Y) that I do in My Father's name testify about Me. 26But you don't believe because you are not My sheep. (Z) [g] 27My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. 28I give them eternal life, (AA) and they will never perish (AB) —ever! No one will snatch (AC) them out of My hand. 29My Father, (AD) who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30The Father and I are one." (AE) [h]

He knows what is in the hearts of man.

John 2:1-12

John 2:1-12

The First Sign: Turning Water into Wine

1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana (A) of Galilee. (B) Jesus' mother (C) was there, and 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother told Him, "They don't have any wine."
4"What has this concern of yours to do with Me, (D) [a] woman?" (E) Jesus asked. "My hour [b] has not yet come."

5 "Do whatever He tells you," His mother told the servants.

6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. (F) Each contained 20 or 30 gallons. [c]

7"Fill the jars with water," Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant." [d] And they did.

9 When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, "Everybody sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now."

11 Jesus performed this first sign [e] in Cana (G) of Galilee. (H) He displayed (I) His glory, (J) and His disciples believed in Him.

12 After this, He went down to Capernaum, (K) together with His mother, His brothers, (L) and His disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.

I wonder if it is significant that Jesus first miracle performed was at a wedding? Or is it just significant that He was fufilling the OT prophecy of doing miracles and revealing his glory so that His disciples believed in Him?

I do think it significant that He honored His mother, even at the age of around 30 even though it may not have been in His timing (vs 4)

John 1:19-51

John 1:19-51

John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ
19Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ.[g]"
21They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."

22Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "[h]

24Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

[i]Jesus the Lamb of God
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
32Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

Jesus' First Disciples
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

39"Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter[j]).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."
44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.

47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

48"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

49Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

50Jesus said, "You believe[k] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51He then added, "I tell you[l] the truth, you[m] shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."


In reading other scripture from my Bible that is referenced with this passage of scripture, I think it's important to note a few things.

The Jews were under oppression from Roman rule and had been looking for the Messiah to save them from this ruler. They knew that there were certain things to happen before the promised Savior would come. That is why the priests and the Levites came to ask John who he was. John denies being the Christ, he denies being Elijah (Malachi 4:5) he denies being the promised Prophet (Deut 18:15). He then tells them who he is from the words of the prophet (Isaiah 40:3).

The next part about baptism I had to research as well, because I had questions. What I found was that baptism or washing could only be performed or authorized by prophets or other authorities (washing references) and was a rite of Gentile entrance into Judaism (Elisha had Naaman wash in the river Jordan--2 Kings 5), but Jesus would pour out a baptism of the Spirit (Isaiah 44:3).

Jesus had to be baptised because it was foretold in Isaiah 42:1.

The rest of the passage 35-51 is a record of Jesus gathering His disciples, those who seem to have been waiting and praying for Him to come.


most of the washing references that I actually read were washing of hands and feet before they entered the temple. They were standing (feet) on Holy ground and were to slay (done with hands) the sacrifice for a burnt offering.


After a little further study about washing of feet (not only scripture but also looking up "Jewish tradition 'washing feet'"), it is described as the most lowliest of things for Jews to wash someone else's feet. Usually a servant would do this job. Jews would wash (or have their feet washed) because they were worried about the possibility of having picked up disease, such as leprecy.

I looked a little further and found before Aaron could enter the inner holy of holies he had to wash his feet and hands or he would die (Ex 30:18-21).

washing hands shows reference to innocency not only in the OT (Psalm 73:13) but also in the NT when Pilot washed his hands to show that he was innocent of Jesus fate to the cross (Mat 27:14).

I think when it gets down to the basics of washing of the hands and feet it is twofold. First it is to show innocence or a cleansing of the heart to be able to approach God (see above reference). We are washed in the blood of the lamb, thus we will be able to live with God for an eternity. Second, washing the feet of someone was a sign of great respect in the Jewish culture. Usually the lowliest of the low were relegated to do this task--willingly or unwillingly. However, there are quite a few instances of feet washing. The most significant IMO, is of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples shortly before his death (John 13).

John 1: 1-18

John 1:1-18

The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.
6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[b]
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,[e][f]who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

I think the first 3 verses mean that the Word (Divinity-God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) was in the beginning. Jesus wasn't created or born like the rest of us, He IS the creator as well, and thus Divinity. In vs 14, it reiterates this and explains more fully that the Word became flesh (Jesus) and lived with us. Thus Jesus was in the beginning.

In verse 4 & 5, Jesus IS life and only through HIM can we have life and become lights in the darkness. If we do not have light in us, then we are in darkness and God will not know us.

okay...I have to explain the "born like the rest of us" part. He did not have an earthly father like the rest of us do.

A Study on The Gospel According to John

I created this blog as an attachment to my mom2smack blog so that I could work on a personal Bible Study that I'm fascilitating on a private message board. I was getting a little excited, no a lot excited, and was going a lot faster that most were able to keep up.

Because I don't want to copyright from other comments on that board, some of the first 2 chapters may be a little bare in explanation.