The Grace Commentary – Your free verse-by-verse Bible commentary John 3

Johannes 3:1

Es gab aber einen Mann von den Pharisäern mit Namen Nikodemus, einen Fürsten der Juden;

(a) Nikodemus enters the story as an inquisitive Pharisee and becomes a secret disciple of Jesus who was present at his burial (John 19:39).

(b) A ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, the 70-man ruling council of Israel.

Johannes 3:2

Dieser Mann kam nachts zu Jesus und sagte zu ihm: „Rabbi, wir wissen, dass du von Gott als Lehrer gekommen bist; denn niemand kann diese Zeichen tun, die du tust, es sei denn, Gott ist mit ihm.“

A teacher. Nicodemus did not yet have a revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. He thought Jesus was merely a rabbi or teacher.

Johannes 3:3

Jesus antwortete und sagte zu ihm: „Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage dir: Wenn jemand nicht wiedergeboren wird, kann er das Reich Gottes nicht sehen.“

Born again. To be born again (literally, to be “born from above”) is to be born of God (John 1:13, 1 Pet. 1:3) or born of the Spirit (John 3:8). It is being made alive by the Spirit of God (Col. 2:13). This rebirth happens when we put our faith in the Son of God (John 3:15). The moment we turn to Jesus in faith, we cross over from death to life (John 5:24, 1 John 3:14) and we receive the Spirit of God (Acts 2:38, Rom. 8:9). We leave Adam’s family and are adopted into the family of God.

Because your rebirth was an act of God, you cannot undo what the Lord has done. Because you have been born of imperishable seed (1 Pet. 1:23), you are eternally saved and secure.

Some say that evangelists put a disproportionate emphasis on a phrase that barely appears in scripture. But Jesus speaks plainly and he repeats himself for emphasis: “You must be born again” (John 3:7).

Johannes 3:4

Nikodemus sagte zu ihm: „Wie kann ein Mann geboren werden, wenn er alt ist? Er kann doch nicht ein zweites Mal in den Schoß seiner Mutter eintreten und geboren werden, oder?“

(a) Nikodemus; sehen Eintrag for John 3:1.

(b) How? Nicodemus, the great teacher, completely misunderstands what Jesus is saying about rebirth.

Johannes 3:5

Jesus antwortete: „Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch: Wenn jemand nicht aus Wasser und Geist geboren wird, kann er nicht in das Reich Gottes eingehen.

(a) Unless. Jesus identifies two conditions for entering the kingdom of God.

(b) One is born of water. Jesus is referring to our natural birth. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (see next verse). You have to be born before you can be born again. Only the sons and daughters of Adam can become sons and daughters of God.

(c) And the Spirit. To be born of the Spirit is to be made alive by the Spirit of God (Col. 2:13). “The flesh profits nothing; the Spirit who gives life” (John 6:63).

To be born of the Spirit is to be born again and made alive by the Spirit of God (Col. 2:13). When we come to Christ in faith, we are born of the Spirit and made brand new (2 Cor. 5:17). We get a new nature with a new understanding and new desires. We receive the Spirit of Christ which means we now have get the heart and mind of Christ (Eze. 18:31, Acts 2:38, 1 Cor. 2:14). We become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Only those who have been born of the spirit can walk in the spirit.

As the prophet said, we receive a new heart and a new mind because we receive the Spirit of God and he gives us the heart and mind of Christ (Eze. 18:31, Acts 2:38, 1 Cor. 2:14). “The Spirit of God dwells in you” (Rom. 8:9). It is only by the Spirit’s aid that we can understand the goodness of God and all the good things he has given us (1 Cor. 2:12, 1 John 5:20).

When we are born of the Spirit, we are made brand new (2 Cor. 5:17). We get a new nature with a new understanding and new desires. Sin loses its appeal because we have found something better by far.

Johannes 3:6

„Was aus dem Fleisch geboren ist, ist Fleisch, und was aus dem Geist geboren ist, ist Geist.

(a) Das, was aus Fleisch geboren ist (natural man) cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:50). We all need to be born of the Spirit. We all need to be born again.

Johannes 3:7

„Sei nicht erstaunt, dass ich zu dir gesagt habe: ‚Du musst wiedergeboren werden.‘

(a) You must be born again. All of us have gone astray and become captive to sin; every one of us needs to be made new and born again.

In context, Jesus is speaking to a man who had good reasons for being confident in his own pedigree and performance. Nicodemus was a descendent of Abraham, a law-abiding Pharisee, and a member of the ruling council. He was a teacher of Israel (John 3:10). By all accounts, wealthy Nicodemus was a walking success story. To this good man Jesus says, “Your pedigree and performance are not good enough. You must be born again.” See Eintrag für Selbstgerechtigkeit.

(b) Born again; sehen Eintrag for John 3:3.

Johannes 3:8

„Der Wind weht, wohin er will, und du hörst sein Geräusch, weißt aber nicht, woher er kommt und wohin er geht; so ist es mit jedem, der aus dem Geist geboren ist.“

(a) The wind blows where it wishes. The Spirit breathes where he wills and no one can tell where he comes from or where he is going. Jesus is talking about the mystery of new birth. The gospel is preached all over the world and some receive it while others don’t.

(b) So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. Why do some open their hearts to the Holy Spirit? It’s a mystery. Surely God wants all to come to him for new life; he is not willing that any perish. But the choice is ours.

Johannes 3:9

Nikodemus sagte zu ihm: „Wie kann das sein?“

(a) Nicodemus; sehen Eintrag for John 3:1.

(b) How can these things be? Instead of accepting the truth of what Jesus was saying, Nicodemus questioned him.

“How can a man be born when he is old?” (John 3:4) “How can these things be?” His questions reveal his confusion. “What do you mean, Jesus? What are you saying? How does this happen?”

Johannes 3:10

Jesus antwortete und sagte zu ihm: „Bist du der Lehrer Israels und verstehst diese Dinge nicht?

(a) The teacher of Israel. Nicodemus was a notable teacher, but his learning was no help in processing what Jesus was saying. He seems to have missed or forgotten those Old Testament prophecies that signalled the new birth (e.g., Eze. 11:19, 36:26).

(b) Do not understand. Nicodemus could not believe what Jesus was saying (see next verse). We do not need to understand how the wind blows to experience the wind. Similarly, we do not need to understand the new birth to be born again. We just need to accept or believe what Jesus said.

Johannes 3:11

„Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage Ihnen: Wir sprechen von dem, was wir wissen, und bezeugen, was wir gesehen haben, und Sie akzeptieren unser Zeugnis nicht.

(a) We speak of what we know. Jesus had witnessed the entire unfolding of creation, yet Nicodemus was slow to accept what he was hearing.

(b) You do not accept our testimony. Nicodemus wanted to have everything figured out before he made the leap of faith, but in spiritual matters, understanding follows faith. We see because we believe (John 11:40).

Johannes 3:13

„Niemand ist in den Himmel aufgestiegen außer dem, der vom Himmel herabgestiegen ist: der Menschensohn.

(a) Descended from heaven. Nicodemus saw Jesus as little more than a godly teacher who was anointed to perform signs and wonders (John 3:2). Jesus reveals himself as something much more – he is the Man from heaven. First Adam was an earthly man who came from the ground; Last Adam came from heaven.

On numerous occasions, Jesus told his disciples that he was not from earth but had come from heaven. See Eintrag for John 6:38.

(b) The Son of Man; sehen Eintrag for Matt. 8:20.

Johannes 3:15

damit jeder, der an ihn glaubt, das ewige Leben hat.

(a) Wer glaubt. Jesus hat ziemlich geheimnisvoll von Wiedergeburt und Wind gesprochen; Jetzt spricht er Klartext. Das neue Leben, das wir alle brauchen, wird in ihm gefunden und durch den Glauben empfangen.

All of God’s blessings, including forgiveness, salvation, righteousness and eternal life, come to us freely by grace and are received by faith (Eph. 2:8). Faith does not compel God to forgive us or sanctify us. But faith is the conduit through which grace flows. See Eintrag für den Glauben.

(b) Habe ewiges Leben. Eternal life is not something we receive in the future, but something we can enjoy here and now (John 3:16, 6:40, 1 John 5:13). Where do we find this eternal life? “This life is in the Son” (1 John 5:11). He who has the Son has life (1 John 5:12). Those who believe in Jesus have eternal life.

(c) Ewiges Leben We are not born immortal (Rom. 2:6–8, Eph. 2:1). Eternal life is a gift we receive when come to Christ. The moment you put your faith in Christ you crossed over from death to life and you shall never perish (John 5:24). Eternal life is not merely endless life; eternal life is divine life. It is Christ’s glorious life as opposed to the broken short-lived life we inherited from Adam.

Those who believe in Jesus have crossed over death into life (John 5:24). This new life can never be lost because it is ewig Leben. Sehen Eintrag für ewige Sicherheit.

Johannes 3:16

„Denn Gott hat die Welt so sehr geliebt, dass er seinen eingeborenen Sohn gab, damit jeder, der an ihn glaubt, nicht verloren geht, sondern ewiges Leben hat.

(a) Loved. The original verb agapaō means “to love dearly” in the sense of being well pleased with, fond of, or contented with someone. This word describes the unconditional love God the Father has for his Son (John 3:35, 15:9, 17:26), and for his children (Eph. 2:4, 1 John 3:1). God is indiscriminate with his love. Even if you are the worst sinner in the world, he loves you with the same sort of love he has for Jesus (see Eintrag for John 17:23).

(b) World. Fallen humanity and sin-marred creation. The Creator made the universe and everything in it. He gave dominion of the world to Adam and Adam handed it to the devil. But God did not wash his hands of us or creation. His purpose is to redeem what was lost and restore what was broken. To bring about the regeneration of creation, God sent a Man from heaven, his only begotten Son. Through Christ, all things are being made new and a new creation will replace the old. See also the Eintrag for Matt. 4:8.

(c) Er gab. While we were sinners, God sent his Son to save us. God sent Jesus because he wants us to know how much he loves us. He’s not interested in condemning us or treating us as our sins deserve. His desire is to rescue every last one of us, from the best of us to the worst of us. The Father’s heart of love beats for the whole world.

(d) Wer glaubt. Das Vertrauen auf Jesus ist die einzige Voraussetzung, um seine Gnade zu empfangen.

In the New Testament, there are more than 200 imperative statements linked with faith. Some of these statements exhort us to: receive Jesus (John 1:11-12, 5:43), receive the message of Jesus (John 17:8), obey or heed the message or good news of Jesus (John 17:6) and turn to God in repentance (Acts 26:20).

Other scriptures encourage us to accept the word (Mark 4:20), confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9), call on the name of the Lord (Act 2:21), eat the bread of life (John 6:50-51), be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20), submit to God’s righteousness (Rom. 10:3), and be born again (John 3:3, 7).

But the one imperative that appears far more than any other, is the instruction to believe in the Lord Jesus (John 3:15, 18, 6:29, 9:35, Acts 16:31, 1 Tim. 1:16, 1 Pet. 2:6). We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31, Acts 8:37, 1 John 5:1, 13), who was raised from the dead (Rom. 4:24, 10:9, 1 Th. 4:14). To believe in the Lord Jesus is to believe in the One who sent him (John 12:44). Believing in Jesus is both the work of God (John 6:29) and the command of God (1 John 3:23).

(e) Shall not perish. Es war einmal, als du tot in Sünden warst und von der Welt getrennt warst zoe-Leben Gottes (siehe Eintrag for Eph. 2:1). But the moment you put your faith in Christ you crossed over from death to life and you shall never die (John 5:24).

(f) Perish. The original verb apollymi means “fully destroy” and this is how the word is sometimes translated (e.g., John 10:10, Jas. 4:12). It does not suggest an eternity of conscious torment. The ultimate wage of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), the ultimate expression of which is the final or second death (Rev. 2:11, 21:8).

It is a travesty that a few scriptures have been mashed together to create a theology of eternal conscious torment (e.g., Mark 9:44, Rev. 14:11, 19:3), when the Lord spoke plainly about the destructive consequences of rejecting life (Matt. 10:28, John 10:28). The apostles described the final judgment as a consuming fire (Heb. 10:27) which will result in the “destruction of ungodly men” (2 Pet. 3:7; see also 2 Th. 1:9, Jas. 4:12, Rev. 11:18). Unlike his boundless love, God’s wrath is finite (Rev. 15:1).

(g) Ewiges Leben lebt für immer in Gemeinschaft mit Jesus; sehen Eintrag for John 3:15.

To give us eternal life is the answer to the question, why did Jesus come (John 10:28, Rom 6:4, 1 Tim. 1:16). Jesus did not come principally to free us from sin or to give us a new nature. He came to give us a new life which includes those other things. “I have come that they may have (zoe) life” (John 10:10). When we preach the gospel, we are telling people about the new life that Jesus offers to all (Acts 5:20). See Eintrag für neues Leben.

Johannes 3:17

„Denn Gott hat den Sohn nicht in die Welt gesandt, um die Welt zu richten, sondern damit die Welt durch ihn gerettet werde.

Saved through Him. Jesus is the Deliverer who rescues us from our enemies (Luke 1:71, Gal. 1:4). He is the Savior who saves our souls from death (Ps. 33:19, 116:8, Jas. 5:20). He is the unsinkable ark of our salvation (see Eintrag for Heb. 11:7).

Johannes 3:18

„Wer an ihn glaubt, wird nicht gerichtet; Wer nicht glaubt, ist bereits gerichtet, weil er nicht an den Namen des eingeborenen Sohnes Gottes geglaubt hat.

(A) Wer glaubt; sehen Eintrag for John 3:15.

(b) Judged already. Judgment is not merely something that happens in the distant future. Judgment Day is a future manifestation of a present reality.

During his time on earth, Jesus declared, “For judgment I came into this world” (John 9:39). He wasn’t saying, “I’m here to judge you,” for he also said, “I pass judgment on no one” (John 8:15). Judgment is what happens when we respond to Jesus Christ.

(c) The Son of God. Most of the time Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man (see Eintrag for Matt. 8:20). But on a few occasions he acknowledged that he was the Son of God (John 5:25, 10:36, 11:4, Rev. 2:18).

Johannes 3:19

„Dies ist das Urteil, dass das Licht in die Welt gekommen ist und die Menschen die Dunkelheit mehr liebten als das Licht, denn ihre Taten waren böse.

(a) Das Licht and The Light of Life and the Light of the world and the Light of men and the True Light are all names for Jesus (John 1:4, 9, 8:12, 9:5).

Adams gefallene Rasse lebt im Tal des Schattens des Todes. In dieses dunkle Tal kommt Jesus mit der hellen und leuchtenden Offenbarung, dass Gott uns ein neues Leben anbietet.

(b) World. Fallen humanity; see Eintrag for Matt. 4:8.

People don’t love the darkness because they have inherited a sinful nature but because they have committed sin and are afraid of being exposed by the light (John 3:20). Think of Adam and Eve hiding in the garden. They weren’t hiding because they had a sinful nature. They hid because they had done an evil deed.

Johannes 3:29

„Wer die Braut hat, ist der Bräutigam; aber der Freund des Bräutigams, der dasteht und ihn hört, freut sich sehr über die Stimme des Bräutigams. Damit ist meine Freude erfüllt.

The bridegroom. In scripture, Jesus is sometimes portrayed as a bridegroom (Matt. 9:15, 22:2, 25:1, Eph. 5:25, Rev. 19:7, 21:2, 9).

Johannes 3:30

„Er muss zunehmen, aber ich muss abnehmen.

I must decrease. John wasn’t being modest; he was prophesying.

John was the last old covenant prophet (Matt. 11:13), while Jesus was the herald of the new covenant (Mal. 3:1). John was saying, “The old covenant ministry that I represent must diminish and make way for the new covenant ministry of Jesus.” The old covenant had served its purpose, but now Jesus had come it had to go.

Johannes 3:35

„Der Vater liebt den Sohn und hat alles in seine Hand gegeben.

(a) Der Vater; sehen Eintrag for John 4:21.

(b) Liebt den Sohn. The original word for love means to be well pleased or fond of or contented with. It describes the unconditional love God the Father has for his Son (John 3:35, 15:9, 17:26), for the whole world (John 3:16), and for his children (Eph. 2:4, 1 John 3:1). God loves you with exactly the same sort of love he has for Jesus (see Eintrag for John 17:23).

Johannes 3:36

„Wer an den Sohn glaubt, hat ewiges Leben; wer aber dem Sohn nicht gehorcht, wird das Leben nicht sehen, sondern der Zorn Gottes bleibt auf ihm.“

(a) Wer glaubt. Alle Segnungen Gottes, einschließlich Vergebung, Erlösung, Gerechtigkeit und ewiges Leben, kommen uns frei aus Gnade und werden durch Glauben empfangen. Der Glaube zwingt Gott nicht, uns zu vergeben oder zu heiligen. Aber der Glaube ist der Kanal, durch den die Gnade fließt. Sehen Eintrag for Eph. 2:8.

(b) Wer nicht gehorcht is the one who does not believe (see 1 John 3:23). John is not preaching a salvation that is conditional on your performance. He is not saying, “If you stumble, you’re out.” He’s contrasting sheep and goats, believers and unbelievers.

(c) Will not see life. We are not born immortal (Rom. 2:6–8). Eternal life is a gift we receive when come to Christ (John 3:15, 5:24). Those who refuse to come to Christ will not have eternal life (John 5:40).

(d) Ewiges Leben lebt für immer in Gemeinschaft mit Jesus; sehen Eintrag for John 3:15.

(e) Der Zorn Gottes refers to the erosion and ultimate destruction of our humanity that occurs when we reject the Author of Life. There is the “wrath that abides” which is what we experience when we walk in unbelief and ungodliness (John 3:36, Rom. 1:18), and there is the wrath that ultimately destroys those things that have no part in God’s kingdom (Rom. 5:9, 9:22).

God’s wrath is sometimes depicted as fire (Ex. 32:10, Deut. 6:14–15, Jer. 4:4) or an outstretched hand (Is. 5:25, 9:17, 21, 10:4–5, Jer. 21:5). Although wrath is traditionally viewed as smiting punishment, it is better described as vengeance. There are two types of vengeance; vindictive (an eye for an eye) and vindicating (making right). Old covenant wrath tends to be the former; new covenant wrath is the latter.

The wrath of God is not a divine foot from heaven stomping on the heads of sinners. Jesus loves sinners; he doesn’t smite them. But unbelief has terrible and destructive consequences. The one who refuses to believe that God longs to be good to them will have trouble experiencing the goodness of God. And to resist God’s goodness in a universe that testifies to his majesty and kindness, is to lose touch with reality and our own humanity.

We were designed to live in the love of God. When we look elsewhere to get our needs met, we imbibe the toxic offerings of a fallen and polluted world. In Biblespeak this is called walking after the flesh and it is a recipe for corruption (Gal. 6:8).

See entry for “Wrath of God.”

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Johannes 3