3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, dangerous to robbers but also dangerous to his reputation. The Pharisee was a ruler, both curious and afraid. He honored Jesus' wisdom and His miracles, which had to be divine.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus revealed His message to others and often puzzled them, which helped influential leaders to see the truth. Nicodemus responded with an absurdity, which balanced his superior education with Jesus' divine truth. Many who think themselves very clever find themselves equally confused by the Son of God.
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of 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.
Judaism has challenged students and teachers to know God's own truth, in spite of the challenges of others. This is an ancient tradition for helping people to learn the entire truth.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Born of the Spirit is often ignored, as if the Holy Spirit is not acknowledged already by Genesis 1:2 - "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Invisible forces like wind and sound are powerful messages.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Jesus has confounded Nicodemus because the Pharisee is well trained but also very limited by the divine wisdom of the Savior. This debate rattles the Pharisee because he is weak on the divine truth and shows how Nicodemus must learn the foundation.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Jesus' triad of heaven indicates the Holy Trinity and the unique message about the truths of this Gospel.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass...]
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Many centuries before this conversation, God foreshadowed the lifting of the serpent in the wilderness.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Thus Jesus proclaimed the most beautiful saying about His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His title - the Only Begotten Son of God.
