John 3 You must be born again John 3:1-15

3 "Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born [b]again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

     Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the people of Israel during the time of Jesus.  He was a man who had many scripture passages memorized and was a part of the Sanhedrin or ruling counsel.  He should have understood the concept about the new birth since it is mentioned in the Old Testament.  However, Nicodemus was trusting in the fact that he had been born a Jew for entry into heaven.  To this, Jesus begins his teaching to tell him he needs, as does everyone else, to be born again.  This was astonishing to someone who already thought he had eternal life guaranteed.  That a person must be born again is mentioned in numerous parts of the New Testament in 1 Peter 1:3; Titus 3:5, Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 6:15, James 1:18.   
     For Jesus, it is not simply a matter of being reformed morally to enter into heaven or rule keeping.  Our good deeds are like filthy rags to God and we can never be good enough by the flesh.  Later in verse 6, Jesus will say in essence "flesh is flesh" and it cannot earn entry into heaven.  Nicodemus understood rule keeping and works.  The Bible makes it clear that is it not something of works that we should boast Ephesians 2:9.  It is a matter of regeneration that occurs by the work of the Spirit not of man.  

4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born [c]again.’8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” vs.4-8

     Nicodemus responds in astonishment.  He takes Jesus words literally in verse 4.  To emphasize his point, the words "truly, truly" mean that Jesus is being very emphatic about what he says.  Jesus says to him that you think it is enough to be born a Jew.  But, you must be also born of the Spirit.  You don't understand the Spirit anymore than you understand the wind vs.8, but that doesn't mean you can't experience it.  The idea of being born of "water" is the natural birth that we all experience.

9 "Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man."

    Jesus is saying that as the sole person who has descended from heaven he has the authority to teach this.  As one who witnessed it and knows it he can teach it.  Jesus is amazed that Nicodemus doesn't immediately understand what he is saying vs.10.  The fact that Nicodemus had so many scriptures memorized and appeared just in everyone else's eyes should cause us to pause and consider these words of Jesus.

Whatever He says to you, do it! John 2:1-12

John 2:1-5 starts this way

2 "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."

     Of these first verses I have verse 5 underlined.  Mary did not know what Jesus would do.  She understood him well enough that he would do something.  She understood that what he might ask them to do might not make sense.  They may be tempted to ignore his request.  But, Mary's directive is clear, no matter what he says to you to do, your job is to do it.  Mary had learned this by watching her son
     Two examples I can think of when God called someone to do something that they didn't understand at the time is when God called on Abraham to offer up Isaac in Genesis 22.  Also, when God told Abram to leave his homeland in Genesis 12.  Hebrews 11:8-9 makes it clear that Abram did not initially know where he was going, but took steps of faith to obey anyway.
      In Luke 2:41-52 we see one of the few stories of Jesus as boy.  He had stayed behind in Jerusalem to teach in the temple at 12 years old.  It says that he "continued to be in subjection to them" verse 51.   Up until this time when Jesus started his public ministry he was always obedient to Mary.  This statement in verse 4 is an indication not of rudeness, but that their relationship had changed.  He was no longer taking his orders from her.

     If you are a christian long enough, you realize that sometimes it doesn't appear on the surface of things that Jesus commands make sense.  Perhaps he asks you to give something up or to do a ministry you don't feel equipped for.  Perhaps he asks you to fill stone waterpots and then asks you to take some of it to the head waiter as Jesus did here.  To the servant, the water looked like water.  There is no indication that it looked different.  It seemed like an odd request.  We sometimes simply have to be obedient and realize that God has a plan in what he has called us to do, even if it doesn't make sense to us.

The result of Jesus request John 2:9-11

9 "When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."

     The worse was usually saved for last when people had already had a lot to drink and might have had enough already.  But, the wine Jesus provided was better than anything man had made.  This is indicated to be the first of His signs.  A sign pointing to Jesus as Savior and Lord.  It says that the disciples in response believed or pisteuo- to be persuaded that a thing is true, to place confidence in.  What do you place confidence in?

Lamb of God John 1:29-39

    29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  John 1:29  KJV

     Here we see John the Baptist in John 1:29-39, first specifically identify Jesus as the Lamb of God who baptizes with fire.   John identifies Jesus as
1. The lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world vs.29,36.  See also references to lamb of God in Reveleations 5:6-8, 14:1, 17:14, 19:7-10; 22:1.  The lamb of God may be a reference to Abraham's mention when he was going to the mountain to sacrifice Isaac.  Abraham said that on that mountain God would provide for himself a lamb, a sacrifice Genesis 22:8.  It is also most probably a reference to Jesus as our Passover Lamb.
     The lamb is the one who takes away the sins of the world.  The word "who takes away" bears with it both that Jesus took up the guilt of the sin of the whole world (Ex 28:38; Lev 5:1; Ezek 18:20) and also that he removed it.  The apostle John uses the universal note that he uses again in John 3:16, 4:42, 6:51).  It is the sins of the whole world or kosmos that Jesus removes. 

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.  John 1:30 KJV

2. John identifes Jesus again as having a higher rank than him and that he existed before John. vs.30  This is not a reference to John and Jesus physical body because John was born several months before Jesus.  It is a reference to the eternal nature of Jesus as The Word of God who is eternal.  John has previously mentioned that he is not worthy to untie the sandal straps of Jesus' shoes.  The role of a servant.

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.  John 1:31-34, KJV

3. John himself did not initially recognize Jesus as the Messiah vs.31,33 The Pharisees and Sadducees were looking for a prophet king who would save them from Rome.  John preached Jesus as the Savior of the whole world instead.  But, he only recognized him when he was baptized and the Spirit descended upon him much like a dove.  This was a sign given to John that this was the one whom was the Messiah. There are numerous references to the Spirit falling upon and resting on Jesus in Matthew 3:16-17, Isaiah 11:1-2, Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:37-38..