John 3
Lutheran reading notes
In John chapter 3, the message of the gospel develops the theme of the divine identity of Christ and belief for eternal life. Lutheran interpretation frequently emphasizes the proclamation of Christ, the distinction between law and gospel, and the promise of justification through faith.
1
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
John 3:1 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
John 3:2 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {again: or, from above}
John 3:3 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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?
John 3:4 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
John 3:5 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:6 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. {again: or, from above}
John 3:7 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
John 3:8 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
John 3:9 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
John 3:10 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
John 3:11 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you {of} heavenly things?
John 3:12 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
John 3:13 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
John 3:14 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:15 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
John 3:16 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:17 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
John 3:18 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:19 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. {reproved: or, discovered}
John 3:20 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 3:21 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
John 3:22 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
John 3:23 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
For John was not yet cast into prison.
John 3:24 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
Then there arose a question between {some} of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
John 3:25 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all {men} come to him.
John 3:26 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. {receive: or, take unto himself}
John 3:27 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
John 3:28 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
John 3:29 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
He must increase, but I {must} decrease.
John 3:30 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
31
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32
And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
John 3:32 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
33
He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
John 3:33 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
34
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure {unto him}.
John 3:34 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
35
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John 3:35 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:36 highlights life and teaching of jesus with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.