John 3: 12 Commentary

1. Being born-again is an earthly thing
a. It occurs to humans
b. While we are alive here on earth
2. If Nicodemus cannot grasp
a. What Jesus is saying regarding
b. The ‘born from above’ experience
3. There is no way Nicodemus will understand
a. When Jesus starts speaking of heavenly things

By Tractorman (wrote 3584 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/10/2012 13:18 pm

Note that John the Baptist also (contrasting himself with Jesus) refers to his own doctrine as earthly things later in the chapter, John 3:31 “He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and SPEAKETH OF THE EARTH: he that cometh from heaven is above all.” When Jesus, therefore, says to Nicodemus “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” he is really asking “If I have repeated the doctrine of John the Baptist and you do not believe, how will you believe if I give you my own doctrine?” In other words, the doctrine of the necessity of the rebirth “of water and of the Spirit” is not something new that Nicodemus had never heard before, but is a repetition (by Jesus) of what John was already preaching and what Nicodemus and his buddies had already been rejected from John. Jesus is saying to Nicodemus that you’ve got to believe what John the Baptist is telling you before you can beleive what I am telling you. Nicodemus’ rejection of John’s baptism (the rebirth of water and of the Spirit) was keeping him from entering the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, and we find in John chapter 1 that the Pharisees sent inquisitors to interrogate John and to intimidate him. We find in chapter 2 certain Pharisees that believe in Jesus, but whom Jesus does not commit himself to. Then we find in chapter 3 Nicodemus coming say “We know you are a teacher come from God” apparently representing these rejected Pharisee believers. And now Jesus tells him quickly “you must be born again” and Nicodemus fakes ignorance. But Jesus doesn’t allow it, for not the he says “and ye beleive not” not “and you are too stupid to understand.” This doctrine of John the Baptist which Jesus was repeating and which they were rejecting is earthly and easy to comprehend, but they were not ignorant, but rather rebellious. As also the following exchange shows. It also shows that the modern Pharisees are not those who insist on baptism, but those who seek every opportunity they can to loophole out of it.

(Mat 21:25-32) “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? {26} But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. {27} And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. {28} But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. {29} He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. {30} And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. {31} Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. {32} For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”

The harlots and tax-collectors were entering the kingdom of God ahead of the Pharisees. Why? Because the Pharisees were rejecting John’s baptism, but the harlots and tax-collectors were accepting it.

By jk (wrote 36 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 4/19/2008 21:52 pm