Bible Commentary Forever คำอธิบายความเข้าใจในพระคัมภีร์ไทยสำหรับชีวิต

John 3

For Greek interlinear links click the [verse numbers] below
Summary. In this chapter, we mainly find the message from the messenger of God, including the way to be saved for all humans; the main details from the message of the messenger have been told to all humans. John 3:1-12. Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night. Nicodemus confesses who the beloved Son of God is on this earth. Jesus says that we must be "born from above" to enter into the kingdom of God. Being "born from above" means being baptized in the water and Holy Spirit. All true believers must be baptized in the water in the name of the Father, of the Son Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit and believe in the Trinity of God to enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:13-21. For God so loved the world. Because of love for His creation, the Father has given His only begotten Son to come down and be born as a human, and this is the true proof of the love the Father has. The light of God has come into the world through the beloved Son of God, and the Father's promise is that everyone who believes and trusts in the beloved Son of God will have eternal life. John 3:22-36. The testimony of John the Baptist about Christ. John testifies that he is not the Christ. John, in his testimony about the Lord Jesus, tells us clearly who Jesus is for us: Jesus comes from heaven, and His authority comes from heaven, and He is above all; Jesus is the bridegroom, and His bride is the ones that trust in Him; Jesus’ death on the cross is the seal of mercy from the Father; Jesus was sent by the Father to come into the world, and the word that He teaches is from the Father, that why Jesus' teaching is a living word that comes from the Father for humans; all that believe in Jesus will have eternal life with the beloved Son of God forever.
[1] Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
Comments John 3:1 As in his position, it is not easy for him to come to the beloved Son of God; he will make an impact among the people.
[2] This came to Him by night, and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou, a Teacher, have come from God; for no one has power to do these signs that Thou does, except God be with Him.
Comments John 3:2 “This came to Him by night.” We all can see by the verse, it is telling, he cannot come during the day, too many people will see his action, and he can be in trouble.
“Rabbi, we know that Thou, a Teacher, have come from God.” All readers should pay attention; this person has confessed already who the beloved Son of God is on this earth; He is a Teacher from God. But, as this person has told here, it is not he himself alone noticing this; as the verse has said, "we," so there were more persons that had talked together and knew who the beloved of God is in this world.
“for no one has … except God be with Him”. All readers should meditate on this verse, on what this man has said to all people; the signs the beloved Son of God is doing on earth, He cannot do it alone, but He does it with the Father; the truth will come out to all later, the beloved Son of God and the Father are One together.
[3] Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except anyone is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.
Comments John 3:3 “Except anyone is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.” What the beloved Son of God has talked about here relates to those born according to the will of the Father, those who will accept the beloved Son of God and have a chance to enter into the kingdom of God.
“born from above.” Born by the will of the Father to know the light and accept the beloved Son of God as their own personal Savior.
[4] Nicodemus says to Him, How can a man be born being old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?
Comments John 3:4 In this verse, Nicodemus gives a question from a human mind point of view.
[5] Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except anyone is born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Comments John 3:5 “Except anyone is born of water and of Spirit.” This verse tells all humans clearly that everyone should be baptized in the water and seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit to enter into the kingdom of God. But also must remember the Holy Spirit baptism has two kinds: "the Holy Spirit going through" or "the Holy Spirit using" (dwelling in). When "the Holy Spirit going through" is when during the water baptism, the person will feel the Holy Spirit, which we can call the baptism in the Holy Spirit as well. When the Holy Spirit prefers to use that heart for work, He will dwell and use that heart; this is "the Holy Spirit using." So, "the Holy Spirit going through," we mean as Holy Spirit touching that person's heart, and the person feels it as well (See Comments John 1:33).
“he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The person must be baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit and believe in the Trinity of God to enter into the kingdom of God. Being "born from above" means being baptized in the water and Holy Spirit. All true believers must be baptized in the water.
[6] That having been born of the flesh, flesh is, and that having been born of the Spirit, spirit is.
Comments John 3:6 “That having been born of the flesh, flesh is.” Every human is born of the flesh; if the person does not accept the Trinity of God and does not worship Him, the flesh will remain as flesh only.
“that having been born of the Spirit, spirit is.” So, any human that accepts the Holy Spirit and has invited Him, and the water baptism also has been completed in that time, then the Holy Spirit has touched that person's heart, and that person has already been born through the Holy Spirit as well; the person will feel in their heart some feeling going through them, but that person did not get the baptism in the Holy Spirit yet; still this can count as has been touched by the Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit going through baptism).
[7] Marvel not that I said to you, It behooves you to be born from above.
Comments John 3:7 The verse has told all readers clearly that to be born from above is to be born through the water; when you come out of the water, you are reborn. The only way to be born from above is through the water baptism in the name of the Father, the Son of God Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. For this earth to be born from above, everyone must go through the water baptism (See verse 5).
[8] The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but be aware not from where it comes, and where it goes; in this manner is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Comments John 3:8 As the verse has told to all believers, you do not know where the Holy Spirit is, not by eyes, nor by ears, but only by the heart being touched from Him. Unlike anything else on this earth, all have shape and sound, but the Holy Spirit does not have shape and sound by humans to perceive, but by the feeling when He touches you.
[9] Nicodemus answered and said to Him, By what means can these be?
[10] Jesus answered and said to him, You are the teacher of Israel, and perceive not these!
Comments John 3:10 As the verse says, someone claims to be a teacher of Israel but has no true understanding about the God that they claim they have to serve and worship. The statement the beloved Son of God made here is not only for this person alone but for all true believers as well; if you claim yourself to be a believer, ask yourself how well you have meditated on the Holy Word and how many times you have been in prayer and ask for understanding.
[11] Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak that what We know, and testify of what We have seen, and you take not Our testimony.
Comments John 3:11 “We speak that what We know …”; At first, the Lord wants readers to pay attention to the word "We." In this place, the beloved Son of God was alone as a human on earth, but when the beloved Son of God has said We, He has told all humans as well, He is not alone; He is in the Trinity of God. All the words He has spoken are by the will of the Father that is in Him; the witness He has mentioned here refers to the Holy Spirit that has been working in the world for so long as well, but humans with the dark mind have not accepted anything from the Lord.
[12] If I told you earthly and you believe not, how will you believe if I tell you of heavenly?
[13] And no one has ascended into heaven, except He having descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who exists in heaven.
Comments John 3:13 “And no one has ascended into heaven.” As the verse has told, no human has gone up to heaven except Jesus; in this place itself, the beloved Son of God has said to all humans, He as a human has been to heaven.
“except He having descended out of heaven.” Only the beloved Son of God has come down from heaven; He had lowered Himself to come down and walk around the earth as humans do.
“the Son of Man, who exists in heaven.” As the verse in this portion has told all humans, the beloved Son of God exists from the beginning, before the earth has been created, and He will continue to be for eternity until the entire will of the Father has been accomplished.
[14] Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, thus it is necessary for the Son of Man to be exalted,
Comments John 3:14 “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.” (See Numbers 21:9 “So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live”). In this verse, we will concentrate on the action of lifting up. Moses has put the bronze serpent up for people to look and have hope, but the beloved Son of God has been exalted not only for hope alone but for people to be saved as well.
"thus it is necessary for the Son of Man to be exalted." To be exalted here refers to the beloved Son of God who will be crucified. The crucifixion position has told all humans that the beloved Son of God in human form has completed the work and has been exalted and glorified in His suffering.
[15] so that all believing in Him may have eternal life.
Comments John 3:15 Let all readers pay attention to this verse; to have eternal life is not that you have been a good person; the most important thing in life for humans on this earth to be saved is to believe and trust in the beloved Son of God, only that will lead all humans to be saved. The word believe in this verse includes all things together: believe and trust in the beloved Son of God, go baptize in the water, and ask the Holy Spirit for understanding; the word believe in this verse has included all these. If you do not believe, will you be baptized in the water?
[16] For God so loved the world, that He gave the only begotten Son, so that everyone believing in Him may not perish, but have eternal life.
Comments John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave the only begotten Son”; As the verse tells all humans, because of love for His creation, the Father has given His only begotten Son, to come down and be born as a human, and this is the true proof of the love the Father has. Even the verse says the world, but the love here has meaning from the Father for humans because the Father Himself has given His beloved Son to come down and be born as a human to save all humans.
“so that everyone believing in Him …”; This part of the verse itself is a promise from the Father, that everyone who believes and trusts in the beloved Son of God will have eternal life with Him at the end.
[17] For God did not send away the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world may be saved through Him.
Comments John 3:17 As the verse has told, the world will be saved through the beloved Son of God, but also the world will be judged fairly by the beloved Son of God Himself.
[18] Whoever believes in Him is not judged, but whoever believes not has been judged already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Comments John 3:18 As the verse has told to all readers, if you believe in the beloved Son of God, you will not be judged with the world.
“but whoever believes not has been judged already …”; As we can see clearly in the world, the ones that do not believe in the beloved Son of God, when troubles come, feel themselves they have to face the challenges alone, and that is why the verse has said, they have been judged already. Therefore, those not believing in the Son of God will face their troubles alone; so, ask yourself, is it easier or harder to face all the troubles with the help of the beloved Son of God at the hand when you have asked for that help?
[19] And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and mankind loved the darkness more than the light; for their works were evil.
Comments John 3:19 As the verse tells, the light of God has already come into the world through the beloved Son of God. If mankind does not believe in the true light that came, they will face the troubles in the dark alone.
“and mankind loved …were evil.” Humans that do not believe in the beloved Son of God spend their life according to their own will, like walking in the dark and doing the work with the dark's help; these types of people will not want the light to come because the work in the dark is evil work and they will be exposed.
The light here means Jesus’ words and His teachings, which is the true light of the world.
[20] For everyone doing evil hates the light, and does not come towards the light, so that his works may not be reproved.
Comments John 3:20 “… so that his works may not be reproved.” As the verse has told, that is what humans do. When a person has committed sin, within the person himself will have the sound of rebuke and make that person stay hidden in their own sin; this is out of fear that their sin will be revealed to someone else, as the verse has told clearly. The humans call this voice a subconscious voice but remember that God has created all humans; God's work is in every human, and inside everyone, they have knowledge between good and bad, but each one has the dark voice which will whisper the doubt into their minds. When we say, "stay hidden in their own sin," we mean that the persons convince themselves that the bad they do is not a sin; outside, it may be seen as they sin, but in them, they believe that it is not a sin.
Those that do bad you think they don’t feel ashamed, but nobody knows what is in their hearts, but the Lord rebukes them when they are alone, and inside of them is heavy like a rock. However, when they go out, they will smile and show that they are the happiest people, but in reality, when they are alone, the tears in their hearts are more than the tears in their eyes. Still, no one ever knows what is eating them inside, and that is why they can’t come in the light; everything will be hidden inside of them, and they will never say to anyone.
[21] But whoever does the truth goes to the light, that his works may be made manifest that have been done in God.
Comments John 3:21 This verse goes opposite from the verse above; anyone who obeys the voice of God in their heart, the joy of the heart will not allow the person to stay silent; it will prompt the person to tell others how great and merciful God is.
[22] After these came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judea, and in that place, He spent time with them and was baptizing.
Comments John 3:22 The beloved Son of God is there with the disciples but did not baptize anyone, as the Bible has told as well, the beloved Son did not do the action of baptizing anyone in the water (See John 4:2).
[23] But John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because many waters were there; and they were coming, and were being baptized,
[24] for John had not yet been cast into the prison.
[25] There arose, therefore, a questioning from John's disciples with certain Jews about purifying.
Comments John 3:25 “… with certain Jews about purifying.” It has been an argument between John’s disciples and the Jews themselves about the way all should be purifying themselves. The question that happened: do humans need to baptize in the water when they are mature, or just sprinkle water as a baby? Most do only sprinkle water as babies, but the beloved Son of God has not taught that way; babies do not understand how to confess their sins, they have to reach the age to know right and wrong, and the heart will make the mouth to confess, and then they will go baptize in the water.
The purification in that time and now is not the same way of thinking. In the past, it started when the priests used the water to sprinkle over the people as cleansing for their sins without any confession of sins. However, you cannot be forgiven until you have confessed your sins to the Lord, but in the old time, the priests will go and sprinkle water on people, which has become a tradition until now. The priests used branches of hyssop leaves to dip in the water and sprinkle over the people. Originally, water sprinkling was not their tradition, but people around them did it, and the priests had adopted this, and it became a tradition.
The Bible says that John performed a baptism in the water by immersion for people, and this questioning comes because of that; because the Jews did not want to go under the water for baptizing, they wanted the old way of the priest to sprinkle water over them and the baby. However, there is no other way to be saved, only through the water baptism; the beloved Son of God has been an example already; obey or disobey that is the choice. Therefore, even baptized as a baby, when reaching a certain age, the person must decide by themselves, regardless of whether they had been baptized as a baby or not, when the time comes, they must be baptized in the water.
Then the sprinkle with water has no place in the Bible; the beloved Son of God did not baptize by sprinkle; read the Holy Word and see how the beloved Son of God has been baptized!
[26] And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, He baptizes, and all are going to Him.
Comments John 3:26 The people put questions to John because he is considered a prophet, and when people ask him, they expect his answers to be as what they feel in their hearts, regardless of what the Lord would want it to be. This is the way people want to control God’s work. The people heard that the beloved Son’s disciples are also baptizing people, so they are split between whom they should be baptized.
Meditating on verses 25 and 26, there are no connections in the way of how the purification should be done; the only one thing in connection is whom they should go to be baptized with.
[27] John answered and said, A man has no power to take, neither one if it is not given to him from heaven.
Comments John 3:27 In this verse, John recognizes the authority of the beloved Son of God. John has told he recognizes who has received the power from above, and he has told if you receive power from above, you can give it to someone further.
[28] You yourselves bear me witness, that I said: I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent as a messenger before that One.
Comments John 3:28 This verse shows the humble heart of a man; John has told all humans who he is, but humans did not listen as well.
[29] The One having the bride is the bridegroom, and the friend of the bridegroom, the one standing by and listening for Him, rejoices with joy because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy, therefore, is fulfilled.
Comments John 3:29 “The One having the bride is the bridegroom.” The bridegroom here refers to the Lord Jesus. The bride is the ones who are led on the way, and the bridegroom is the One who is with the bride, but in this position will be with the people He takes as well, not just leading but taking beside to go with Him. The beloved Son of God always refers to Himself as the bridegroom, and He will take His bride, which is all humans that trust and follow Him; He will take them besides Him.
“and the friend of the bridegroom, the one standing …”; This part of the verse talks in general, also including the gentiles that have trust in Him as well; all His friends will follow Him, His own people, gentiles, both are His people together.
[30] That One it behooves to increase, but I must decrease.
Comments John 3:30 All readers should pay attention to the humbleness of John, read and follow as well. As a messenger, he is still humble; the rest of the people who read are the followers and must be humble as well.
“Increase” in this place relates to the authority; the beloved Son of God has all the authority from above, and John has told clearly to all; he also is a follower of the beloved Son of God, and John has put himself down below now; all people that follow him should realize now who is above all.
[31] The One that comes from above is above all; he that is from the earth is of the earth, and from the earth speaks; the One that comes from heaven is above all.
Comments John 3:31 This verse refers to two persons, the beloved Son of God in human form and John, the messenger; as the verse has told clearly, the One that comes from above is the beloved Son of God, and the one of the earth is John, the messenger.
Because it is important for all who read to know, the beloved Son of God is from heaven, and He is above all things; nothing on earth equals with Him; they all are under His feet.
[32] What He has seen and heard, this He testifies, and no one receives His testimony.
Comments John 3:32 The word of John in this verse tells all readers, what the beloved Son of God has seen and heard from the Father, this He has told all humans, but no one accepts His Word; the beloved Son of God is the witness of mercy from the Father Himself, for humans.
[33] Whoever receives His testimony has set His seal upon that God is true.
Comments John 3:33 Any human that receives the beloved Son of God in their heart, and obeys and follows His teachings, and believes that He is the witness of the mercy of the Father, has also sealed that the Father's love is true by the death on the cross of the beloved Son of God, and this is the final proof of love from the Father.
When the Father has sent His beloved Son of God to die for humans, that is the seal from the Father, that His love is true, not only just by word, but by action; that is why the verse says, "set His seal upon" (set Jesus’ seal upon).
[34] For He whom God sent utters the words of God; for He gives not the Spirit by measure.
Comments John 3:34 “For He whom God sent utters the words of God.” So, the verse tells clearly that the Father sent the beloved Son of God, the One that no lie comes out from His mouth because all in Him is no lie at all, and the word that He will teach is from the Father, that why Jesus' teaching is a living word that comes from the Father for humans.
“for He gives not the Spirit by measure.” The beloved Son of God has poured out all from His life on this earth; His Spirit will be as a gift for all that listen and obey His voice, that is why the verse has told not by measure (the amount), because He at all times, at the right hand of the Father will continue begging for mercy for all humans.
Spirit here refers to the Spirit of Christ, which will link to the Holy Spirit; when the beloved Son of God will continue to pray for humans, the Holy Spirit from the Father will come and give the knowledge to all that belong to Him, and keeping them from being lost to the world. The Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit work together, not separated. Because without faith in the beloved Son of God, the Holy Spirit will not dwell in that heart.
[35] The Father loves the Son and has given all into His hand.
Comments John 3:35 This verse tells all that the Father loves the Son, and all the Father has created has given to the Son, and that the Son can do all, whatever the Son pleases. The beloved Son of God can do both blessings and punishment; the beloved Son has all authority to do.
[36] Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
Comments John 3:36 John has told all humans in this place as well; the belief in the beloved Son of God that a human has will lead that human to eternal life with the beloved Son of God forever; on the other hand, those that disobey the teaching of the beloved Son of God, that soul has no light and life left after death because that soul will be in punishment for eternity.
“the wrath of God abides on him.” When a soul has rejected the beloved Son of God, that soul also has rejected the mercy of the Father at the same time, the anger of the Father will abide on that soul.
Life and Faith Application. 1) Jesus is sent by the Father, and He has authority from above. 2) Jesus' teaching is the living word from the Father for all humans. 3) Being "born from above" means being baptized in the water and Holy Spirit. All true believers must be baptized in the water, by immersion, in the name of the Father, of the Son Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit and believe in the Trinity of God to enter into the kingdom of God.