Joh 3:3-8 | TNotes | STEP | 3:3 born again: Or born from above. John’s expression “from above” (3:31 ; 19:11 ) means “from God.” To experience spiritual rebirth, a person must be completely renewed through God’s power. • Nicodemus interpreted Jesus’ words physically; he demonstrated that those in darkness, who do not have spiritual rebirth, cannot understand Jesus or other “heavenly things” (3:12 ). Jesus sometimes used ironic misunderstanding as a teaching strategy.

‏ John 3:3-8

3:3 ^a born again: Or born from above. John’s expression “from above” (3:31 ^b; 19:11 ^c) means “from God.” To experience spiritual rebirth, a person must be completely renewed through God’s power.

• Nicodemus interpreted Jesus’ words physically; he demonstrated that those in darkness, who do not have spiritual rebirth, cannot understand Jesus or other “heavenly things” (3:12 ^d). Jesus sometimes used ironic misunderstanding as a teaching strategy.
3:5 ^e John the Baptist baptized with water; Jesus baptizes with the Spirit (1:33 ^f).
3:8 ^g Wind translates the same word in Greek as spirit (Greek pneuma). The wind is an apt image for the Spirit, who is sent from heaven and cannot be contained or controlled.