John 3:10-16

John 3:10-16

1. What happens before:

   • John 2- water into wine at wedding in Cana- 1/7 sign
     • John 2- Jesus clears the temple courts
       • John 3- Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night
         • John 3- Jesus speaks of rebirth to see the KofG

2. Verse 9/10

   • Clearly illustrates that Nicodemus (Leader of Jews) has not grasped the idea of being born again
   • Greek: Anothen- again or from above
   • Nicodemus' last question (Importance of rule of two)
   • Nicodemus should have had enough OT knowledge to understand new birth by the spirit (valley of dry bones Ezekiel 37)
   • Greek: The teacher- O Didaskalos

3. Verse 11

   • "Very truly"- "Amen Amen" in the original text
     • Functions here as solemn oath underlining the truth of Jesus' testimony (Lincoln, 2005)
   • You is singular- addressing Nicodemus specifically
     • but shifts to plural you- addressing Nicodemus as representative of Jewish nation

4. Verse 12

   • If Nicodemus is the leader/teacher of the Jews, and he does not understand, how will the Jews believe?
   • It would be useless to speak directly of heavenly things without an analogy to the earthly

5. Verse 13

   • 'Son of Man' only comes from Jesus like in Synoptics - Mark 10:45
   • Shows heavenly origin of the son of man- Ascended & descended refer back to the incarnation (1:14)

6. Verse 14

   • Numbers 21:8- everyone who is bitten shall look and live
   • Verb "Lifting up" denotes lifting literally and exaltation in glory- Jesus is glorified by being crucified in this gospel- F.F. Bruce

7. Verse 15

   • Jesus is finally answering Nicodemus' question from verse 9
     • By spirit we can enter the Kingdom, because of the death and resurrection of the son of man

8. Verse 16

   • Introduction to God's purpose through Jesus
   • Recalls promise of the prologue (1:12-13)
   • God so loved the world- not the quantity of love for the world but in reflection to the gospels negative portrayal of the world.
   • Leads to samatrian woman as she is not a jew-the world is not just jews.
   • Only son- shows the sacrifice of love for the world, greatest gift- sacrifice is all the more because it is his only son.

9. What comes next? :-

   • Jesus carries his discourse following the theme of eternal life which introduces the theme of Judgement
     • John the Baptist reiterates Jesus' divinity which has been previously stated