Context: Scholars agree that John was the last gospel account written, and that Luke was not

the first, but there’s some debate regarding Matthew and Mark. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are

the Synoptic gospels. These gospels cover most of the same events, in mostly the same

order; however, Luke and John have the most time indicators, and could be argued to be

closest to a chronological order.

In a modern, western understanding of history, we place a high value on chronological

accuracy as a marker of the truth of what’s being recounted. This assumption does not carry

into every culture, and even today, a report from India might place more weight on whether an

event occurred in spring or summer, than on whether it occurred in 2024 or 2025.

John is considered non-synoptic because it leaves out several accounts that are in all of the

other gospels, and includes things not found in the other gospels. A solid theory for this is that

John saw the other three gospels published, and then wrote his own account, skimming over

things that were already well-trod ground, and bringing up things he felt hadn’t been

addressed yet, and that needed bringing up.

Matthew and Luke begin with Jesus’ birth, and these are the two gospels brought up most at

Christmas-time. Mark starts with John the Baptist, and Jesus coming to him to be baptized.

John begins with theology, and then we get the assembling of the first disciples, turning water

to wine at the wedding in Cana, Jesus driving the moneychangers out of the temple, and then

we get to John 3.

John 3:1-2

A Pharisee coming to Christ at night. Mirrors Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.

(accept or reject him, it’s always a private, individual thing)

Between this meeting and Jesus’ arrest, we see Nicodemus one more time.

John 7:45-52: Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the

Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever spoke the

way this man does,” the guards replied. “You mean he has deceived you also?” the

Pharisees retorted. “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No!

But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” Nicodemus,

who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our

law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet

does not come out of Galilee.”

I wonder if Nicodemus was at Jesus’ trial. When even Peter denied Christ, it’s not impossible

to think Nicodemus might have attended without speaking up, but it’s also likely that the

Pharisees excluded him, given the events of John 7.

Also, who is “we”?

Pharisees knew who Jesus was, they just didn’t like it. They did similar when Peter was

arrested in Acts

Acts 5:33-39 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. Then one

in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in

respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little

while. And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to

do regarding these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be

somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all

who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee

rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also

perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away

from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to

nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight

against God.”

John 3:3

Nicodemus didn’t ask a question. I never noticed this before.

What is the Kingdom of God?

Luke 17:20-21 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would

come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be

observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God

is in your midst.”

John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would

fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another

place.”

A kingdom from God, but here on earth and within us. Humans are embassies. Two footprint-

shaped plots of land are sovereign soil of heaven, where God rules.

Do we treat each other now as we expect to live together in heaven? Are we practicing living

how we will be expected to live in heaven? Do we live on a trajectory we will continue on in

infinity?

John 3:4

We don’t know if this was confusion, or scoffing. If we trust God to assemble His word,

then if it mattered, we’d be told. What we know is Nicodemus asked.

John 3:5

water: hydor (who-door)

Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the

deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Revelation 17:15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits,

are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

Born of the chaos of pre-creation earth, and of the people, multitudes, nations, and tongues;

this is born of water; AND born of the Spirit.

Why does that first birth matter? Born of the spirit makes sense, but why must one be born of

water?

Psalm 8:4-6 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care

for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with

glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put

everything under their feet:

I Corinthians 6:1-3 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before

the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that

the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not

competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How

much more the things of this life!

Angels aren’t born of water, and while we were made lower than them, we will one day judge

them.

John 3:6

Which was Jesus? Born of flesh, or born of the Spirit? Yes.

John 3:7-8

Changes can come in a way that seems to have no origin to the outsider looking in on

the life of a Christian. “Where is this coming from?” Christians will go where those who don’t

follow God can’t follow.

[When I was around 7 or 8, I prayed along with the end of a Jesus video. I’ve had good

years and week years in the faith since then. Others may be able to give better testimony of

drastic changes.]

John 3:9-10

Even in kindness, Jesus held the teachers to a higher standard.

James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall

receive a stricter judgment.

John 3:11

“We”? “Our”? Who besides Jesus is testifying these things?

Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His

handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There

is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out

through all the earth,

And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly

seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and

Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

John 3:12-13

At this point in history, no human had ascended to heaven aside from Jesus. Crystal

clear. Quick question, what has the church taught you about Enoch and Elijah?

Possible that in this context, “ascending” to heaven specifically refers to ascending

from the dead into heaven, which would lay flat with how the church typically teaches the fate

of Enoch and Elijah. Another interpretation I’ve found is that Enoch and Elijah were taken up

to the first or second heaven, where they then died and went to Sheol.

I don’t love that second interpretation, it’s not impossible to align with scripture, but it’s

the image of God loving Elijah so much that he fast-ball specials him into the ionosphere to

die of decompression like the bad guy in Total Recall that just feels tonally dissonant from the

picture of Elijah we see in the scriptures.

But why does it say that Jesus “is” in heaven while He is on earth?

Ten translations on Bible Hub, just say “, except the Son of Man.” and end the verse

there.

Nine say He is in Heaven: (King James, New King James, American Standard, English

Revised, International Standard, Majority Standard, New Heart, Websters, World English)

Four end the sentence with some variation on “the Son of Man, who came from

heaven.”

...and two end with “the Son of Man, whose home is heaven.”

Possibly, this is a quirk of translation; with some translations parsing the seeming

present tense better than others. I’m inclined to believe that, b/c scripturally it seems that

while Jesus was on earth, there’s no real indication of Him being in multiple places at once.

John 3:14

Foretelling of the crucifixtion

John 3:15

I Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but

is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come

to repentance.

John 3:16

[Does this feel simple? Sunday school-ish? Talk about reading Psalm 23 at Caley

Ridge]

John 3:17

If this is God’s will, then why would anyone not go to heaven? Why is there not

universal salvation? This criticism often comes from non-Christians criticizing Christianity. We

should seek the Lord’s heart, who doesn’t want anyone to perish.

For those critics of Christianity who want universal salvation, what they want is for God

to build a paradise, allow humans to bring sin into that place, and for it to be a place where

people can do what they want with no need to obey God. For the people who want that, I

have good news. That world is outside the window, we live there right now. God made a world

where humans had to garden in a weedless world and make babies. We screwed that up so

bad that I have to wear pants and have a credit score.

John 3:18

What is hell? Currently, three places exist:

Heaven: where God lives, and where humans are with Him until the events of

Revelation

Earth (including physical space): Where humans and fallen angels live

Job 1:6-7 One day the angels[ a ] came to present themselves before the

LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, “Where

have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming

throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Sheol: the grave, described in detail in Luke 16

In the future three places will exist

New Heaven

New Earth: with new Jerusalem on it. Saved humanity’s eternal destiny

Gehenna: the lake of fire. Fallen angels and condemned humanity’s eternal destiny

What is gehenna?

II Chronicles 28:1-3 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he

reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was

right in the eyes of the LORD. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also

made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben

Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices

of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

Gehenna, the eternal lake of fire, is named for a physical place in Israel. This place

was tainted by Molech worship, and became fit only for garbage fires.

“Here the dead bodies of animals and of criminals, and all kinds of filth, were cast and

consumed by fire kept always burning. It thus in process of time became the image of the

place of everlasting destruction.” -Easton’s Bible Dictionary

The modern church tends to view the lake of fire as a place where God created

tortures b/c that’s what sinners deserve. To an early church reader, living within smelling

distance of gehenna, the idea of hell as a place made terrible by human idolatry, human

garbage, and stocked by human-built fires would likely have painted a very different picture of

the nature of eternal damnation.

John 3:19-21

Loving darkness is what condemns people.

John 3:22-26

Why is this juxtaposed with Nicodemus? John the Baptist is being tempted to commit the

same sin that the Pharisees commit. While the Gospel of John is written chronologically (or

mostly chronologically), there is still editorial decisions to be made in what to call attention to,

and what to mention in passing. [Describe the end of The Rise of Theodore

Roosevelt/beginning of Theodore Rex]. John, the gospel writer, intentionally put John the

Baptist’s temptation after Nicodemus, and before another reference.

John 4:1-3 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus

made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize,

but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.

Sandwiched between these accounts of the Pharisees, is this account of John the Baptist,

tempted by, and refusing the same temptation to see Christ as a competitor for authority.

Also, this word “kyrios” is interesting. Critics of the doctrine of the trinity like to make an

issue about the Bible never saying “Jesus is a person of the Holy Trinity” in so many words.

For a Jewish person of Jesus’ day, this word kyrios couldn’t be clearer. It was the

septuagent’s go-to translation of the tetragrammaton YHWH. In the early days of scripture this

name of God was likely pronounced aloud, with a culturally understood assortment of vowels,

but as the Hebrew language developed a more robust system of vowel markers, such

markers weren’t added to this word, and it became a tradition in the new temple period to

regard this as the “unpronouncable name of God”, and refer to Him as Adonai, Jehovah, or

Elohim. In modern times, we assume the vowels in this word and pronounce it Yahweh, which

does likely share some roots with Jehovah.

For a person raised on the septuagent, the constant use of kyrios for Jesus would have

been an unambiguous statement of His godhood.

John 3:27-30

Overall a statement of John’s faith in God. Focusing in on 3:29, it’s also a deep statement on

the love that we in the church ought to have for one another. We ought to see each others’

successes as causes for celebrations, not envy.

Romans 12:9-21 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be

devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in

hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer. Share with the saints who are in need.

Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice

with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited. Do not

repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it

is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. Do not avenge yourselves,

beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will

repay, says the Lord.” On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is

thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do

not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Y’know a thought that a lot of people don’t take captive for Christ, and I think we could? “Not

my job.” Should someone get revenge on that guy that hurt me? Sure. That ain’t in my

contract.

John 3:31-36

Here, we see John understanding a lesson that Jesus taught to someone else. Jesus spent

all this time in the middle of the night trying to explain this to Nicodemus, and John the Baptist

heard “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold,

He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” and from that, spun out everything Nicodemus

was struggling to grasp, but . . .

John 19:39-40 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now

Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders.

With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by

Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a

mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.Taking Jesus’ body, the two of

them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish

burial customs.

Nicodemus finished the race strong. He didn’t understand everything Jesus was trying to

teach him; and maybe he came to understand, maybe he didn’t; but he didn’t need to.

Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who

believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help

my unbelief!”

The God we serve welcomes this heart. This verse has been a great comfort to me, with as

often as I’ve had to pray, “God, I love you and I’m bad at it. You deserve my best, and I have

to come to you to teach me how to give it.” God remembers making us out of dust, He knows

our limitations.

My favorite Hymn: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing:

1 Come, thou Fount of every blessing;

tune my heart to sing thy grace;

streams of mercy, never ceasing,

call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

sung by flaming tongues above;

praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,

mount of God’s unchanging love!

2 Here I raise my Ebenezer;

hither by thy help I’m come;

and I hope, by thy good pleasure,

safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

wandering from the fold of God;

he, to rescue me from danger,

interposed his precious blood.

3 O to grace how great a debtor

daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace now, like a fetter,

bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

prone to leave the God I love;

here’s my heart; O take and seal it;

seal it for thy courts above.

I love this hymn in it’s humility. I’m not a follower a less loving god would even want. I need

the God I serve to teach me how to follow Him, and I mess up more than I succeed, by a lot.

Our best isn’t much at all; but Nicodemus, for all his head-scratching in John 3, is

memorialized in scripture as one who gave the Lord a fine burial. God knows the heart, not in

an “everything I do is fine” kind of way, but in the way that he knows when someone the world

thinks is great is coasting by on 20%, and when someone the world would condemn is giving

their 100% and trying to figure out how to do more.

Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and

watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people

threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper

coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you,

this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of

their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our

weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus advocates for us, remembers that we’re dust, and accepts a prayer of “Lord I believe,

help my unbelief”. When Nicodemus doesn’t get it, it’s just like me. If salvation required

perfect understanding, none of us would be saved. I don’t have perfect faith in my savior, but

I’ve got faith in the perfect savior.