There was a Pharisee man named Nicodemus who was a Jewish leader.

Nicodemus came to Jesus one night and said, “Teacher, we know you’re a teacher from God because no one can do these miracles unless God is with him.”

Jesus replied, “I’m honestly telling you that unless someone is born from above, they can’t see God’s kingdom.”

“How can a person be reborn as an old man?” Nicodemus asked. “He can’t enter his mum’s womb again and be reborn.”

“I’m honestly telling you,” Jesus answered, “that unless someone is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter God’s kingdom. The body gives birth to the body, and the Spirit gives birth to spirit. Don’t be amazed because I said, ‘It’s required that you be born again’. The wind blows where it wants and you can hear it, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. Just like anyone born of the Spirit.”

“How can this be true?” Nicodemus asked.

Jesus said, “You don’t understand this as a teacher of Israel? Honestly, we are telling you what we know and testify what we have seen and you still don’t accept what we say. If I tell you about things regarding the world and you don’t believe it, how will you believe when I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except for those who came down from heaven, such as the Son of Man. Just like Moses lifted a snake in the wilderness, it is required that the Son of Man be lifted so that everyone who trusts in him will have life that never ends, because God loves the world. Therefore, God gave his only Son so everyone who trusts in Jesus will not be destroyed but have everlasting life. This is because God didn’t send his Son to the world to judge the world but to save the world.

Whoever believes in Jesus is not judged, but whoever doesn’t believe is judged because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only son.

This is the judgement: the light has come to the world and people cared for the darkness more than the light, because they did evil things. Everyone who does evil things hates the light and doesn’t come to the light as his behaviours will be made clear, but whoever practices the truth comes to the light and their behaviours are made clear because they are performed in God.”

Jesus and his disciples then went into Judean land where Jesus stayed and baptised people.

Before John had been thrown into prison, John was also baptising at Aenon, near Salim, because that is where there was a lot of water. People were coming and being baptised.

There was an argument between John’s disciples and a Jew regarding ceremonial cleaning.

The disciples came to John and said, “Teacher, the person that was with you on the other side of the Jordan river, who you were witnessing about, is baptising and everyone is going to him.”

John replied, “A person can’t receive anything unless it is given to him from heaven. You tell others that I said, ‘I’m not the Christ but I’m sent before the Christ.’ The groom marries the bride. The groom’s friends, who stand and hear him, celebrate with joy for the groom’s voice. I am full of joy. That person needs to increase and I need to decrease. The one who comes from above is above everything. The one who is from the world is from the world and talks about worldly things. The one who comes from heaven is above everything. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts what he says. The one who accepts what he says confirms that God is truthful. The one who God sent speaks God’s words because he God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything into his hands. The one who trusts in the Son has everlasting life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not experience life. God’s displeasure will stay on them.

John Chapter 3 Summary

Jesus teaches Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, about the importance of being born again through water and the Spirit to see and enter God’s kingdom. Jesus compares the Spirit to the wind, unseen but powerful, and highlights the importance of belief in Him for eternal life, referencing God’s love in sending His Son not to judge but to save the world. Those who believe in Jesus are not judged, but those who reject Him face judgment because they prefer darkness over light.

Jesus then goes to Judea with His disciples to baptise, near where John the Baptist was also continued baptising. John’s disciples are concerned about Jesus’ growing following. John responds by rejoicing in Jesus’ success and acknowledging that his role was to prepare the way for Christ. John confirms Jesus’ mission, sharing that belief in Jesus brings eternal life, while rejection brings God’s displeasure.

John Chapter 3 Bible Study Questions and Answers

1. Why did Nicodemus approach Jesus at night, and what does this tell us about his character and his quest for truth?
Answer: Nicodemus approached Jesus at night possibly because he wanted a private conversation. This shows his genuine curiosity and desire to understand Jesus’ teachings despite potential risks to his reputation.

2. What does it mean to be ‘born again’ in the context of Christian living, and how can this concept be applied to one’s daily life?
Answer: Being ‘born again’ means experiencing a spiritual rebirth through faith in Jesus Christ and having he Holy Spirit. In daily life, this means living in a way that reflects spiritual transformation, prioritising God’s will, and showing Christ-like love and compassion to others.

3. How can Jesus’ teaching on light and darkness influence our actions and choices as Christians?
Answer: Jesus’ teaching encourages us to live clearly and truthfully, embracing the light by doing good works and avoiding evil. It challenges us to not sin and be honest about our actions, seeking to show God’s light in our lives.

4. What can we learn from John the Baptist’s attitude towards Jesus’ growing ministry?
Answer: John the Baptist’s joy in Jesus’ success teach us the importance of recognising our roles in God’s plan, supporting and celebrating other people’s successes in ministry, and prioritising Christ’s glory over our own personal ambitions.

5. How does this chapter teach the main points of Jesus’ good news, and how should it shape our understanding of God’s love and our response to it?
Answer: John 3 highlights God’s incredible love in sacrificing His only Son to save us. It should shape our understanding of God’s unconditional love and inspire us to respond with trust, thankfulness, and a commitment and desire to share this message with others.

John Chapter 3 Explained

John 3 is a pivotal chapter in the New Testament, providing insights into Jesus’ teachings on rebirth, belief, and salvation. Nicodemus, a Pharisee leader, contacts Jesus at night, possibly due to fear of judgement from his peers. His conversation with Jesus reveals his genuine curiosity and respect for Jesus as a God-inspired teacher. However, Nicodemus struggles to understand Jesus’ teaching of being ‘born again,’ and asks how one can re-enter their mother’s womb.

Jesus clarifies that being ‘born again’ involves a spiritual rebirth, not a physical one. This rebirth is achieved through water and the Spirit, referring to baptism and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus teaches that the Spirit is like the wind, invisible yet powerful and life-changing. This concept challenges Nicodemus, reflecting the broader challenge many face in understanding these truths.

Jesus further explains that understanding earthly things is foundational to understanding heavenly matters. He gives the illustration of Moses lifting the snake in the wilderness to explain His own coming death. Just as those who looked at the bronze snake were healed, people who believe in Jesus will have eternal life. This leads to the famous teaching of the Jesus’ core message: God’s incredible love for the world’s people resulted in God giving His only Son to offer eternal life to all who believe.

John the Baptist continues his baptism ministry even as Jesus gains more followers. John’s disciples are concerned over Jesus’ growing popularity, but John responds with joy. He tells the disciples that his role is to prepare the way for Jesus, comparing himself to a friend rejoicing at the groom’s marriage. John’s statement, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” shows his understanding of his mission and selfless attitude.

John concludes by confirming Jesus’ origin and ultimate authority. He contrasts earthly and heavenly views, teaching that Jesus, who comes from above, is discussing what He has seen and heard from God. While many people reject what Jesus says, people who accept it, accept God’s truthfulness. John says everyone has an important choice to make: believe in Jesus, which leads to eternal life, or reject Jesus, which leads to remaining under God’s displeasure.

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Continue exploring John 3

If you’d like to read John xx in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try John 3 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try John 3 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try John 3 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore John in more depth, here are two commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: John
Mark (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of John (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)