1 "NOW THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, 2 a ruler of the Jews; the same came unto Him by night, and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these signs that Thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born anew, he 4 can not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a 5 second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and 7 that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said 8 unto thee, Ye must be born anew. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not 9 whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, 10 How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these 11 things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and bear witness of that we have seen; and ye receive not 12 witness. If I told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how 13 shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things? And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of 14 heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must 15 the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth may in 16 Him have eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
Golden Text.—"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." Verse 16.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What noted man is brought to light in this lesson? V. 1. (2) At what time did Nicodemus come to Jesus? What did he say to Jesus? V. 2. (3) What was Jesus' answer? V. 3. (4) With what questions did Nicodemus reply? V. 4. (5) What explanation did Jesus give? V. 5. Note 1. (6) What did He say of that which is born of the flesh? And of the Spirit? V. 6. Note 2. (7) At what need Nicodemus not wonder? V. 7. (8) Why? V. 8. Note 3. (9) How did Nicodemus show his perplexity? V. 9. (10) With what question did Jesus manifest surprise? V. 10. (11) What positive assurance did He then give to the ruler? How did He show His knowledge of the human mind? V. 11. (12) How did Jesus show Nicodemus his misconception of spiritual things? V. 12. (13) Who only would be capable of telling him spiritual things? V. 13. (14) What well-known circumstance was brought to the ruler's mind? What did that act prefigure? V. 14. (15) For what purpose was the Son of man "lifted up"? V. 15. (16) When was He "lifted up"? Ans.—At the cross. (17) What was the actuating motive in this scripture? V. 16. Note 4.
NOTES.
1. "Born of water and the Spirit."—Being born of water is a ceremony, an ordinance, an outward act showing an inward purpose. It is a public confession of belief that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died, was buried, and rose again; it is a profession of having put off the old man, or died to the world, been buried with Christ, and having risen again with Him to walk with Him in newness of life. Being born of the Spirit is the reality of what is professed in baptism, or the water birth. One is the profession, the other is the life.
2. "Born of the flesh"—is the natural birth, with all the fleshly instincts or natural tendencies. Being so born, one must so remain until a change is wrought through the Gospel by the Spirit. Then the life is no longer actuated by the desires of the flesh, but it is spiritual, or is led by the Spirit.
3. "The wind bloweth where it listeth."—The margin reads, "The Spirit breatheth," etc. The conclusion of the verse shows that "spirit," and not "wind," is the idea. In other words, as is the Spirit, so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
4. "God so loved the world."—John 3:16 contains not only the whole Gospel, but the actuating motive of its Author, and the sad necessity of the race for whose benefit it was proclaimed. (1) The world was lost. (2) God loved it. (3) He gave His Son as a ransom. (4) Whosoever believed in Him should not perish, which implies that without Him all would perish, as expressed in verse 36. (5) All who believe shall have everlasting life.
