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1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees [Separated] named Nicodemus [Victory people], a ruler of the Jews [Praisers]. 2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi ·Teacher·, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
3 *Yeshua [Salvation] answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”
4 Nicodemus [Victory people] said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
5 Yeshua [Salvation] answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of haRuach [the Spirit, Breath] is spirit. 7 Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of haRuach [the Spirit, Breath].”
9 Nicodemus [Victory people] answered him, “How can these things be?”
10 Yeshua [Salvation] answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel [God prevails], and don’t understand these things? 11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t trust, how will you trust if I tell you heavenly things? 13 †‡No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14 §*As Moses [Drawn out] lifted up the serpent † in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever trusts in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 ‡For God has agapao ·total devotion love· to the inhabitants of the earth, so he gave his one and only Son, that whoever trusts in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 §
For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who trusts in him is not judged. He who does not trust has been judged already, because he has not trusted in the name of the one and only Ben-Elohim ·Son of Elohim God·. 19 This is the judgment, that *the light has come into the world, and men have agapao ·total devotion love· to the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
22 After these things, Yeshua [Salvation] came with his disciples into the land of Judea [Praise]. He stayed there with them, and immersed. 23 John [Yah is gracious] also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were immersed. 24 For John [Yah is gracious] was not yet thrown into prison. 25 There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John [Yah is gracious]’s disciples with some Jews [Praisers] about purification. 26 They came to John [Yah is gracious], and said to him, “Rabbi ·Teacher·, he who was with you beyond the Jordan [Descender], to whom you have testified, behold, the same does mikvah ·baptism·, and everyone is coming to him.”
27 John [Yah is gracious] answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah [Anointed one],’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 †What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives haRuach [the Spirit, Breath] without measure. 35 Abba ·Father familiar, Dear Dad· has agapao ·total devotion love· to the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 ‡§One who trusts in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
* 3:3 (3-6) MP: God establishes a new covenant with Israel and Judah, forgiving and removing sin allows them to know God intimately. (Jer 31:30, 31:33) † 3:13 . MPr: In context of describing the future time of universal peace under the Messianic Kingdom rein. (Zech 3:10 in Midrash Ps 122). (Zech 3:10) ‡ 3:13 (13-15) MP: Statement and question, what is the name of “Son” of God. Consider in connection with (Ps 2:6-7) God’s King has become God’s son and (Ps 2:12) kiss the son / give reverence to the son lest he be angry and you perish. (See also 1 John 2:22-24). (Prov 30:4) § 3:14 (14-15) MP: Messiah is from Jesse’s household and is a banner and rallying point to the nations, the Gentiles. (See also Is 11:1, 49:6, 60:1-3). (Is 11:10b) * 3:14 (14-18) MP: The one providing atonement is lifted up on a stake to restore healing to man. (Num 21:9) † 3:14 . Quoted from Num 21:9 ‡ 3:16 (16-19) MP: Messiah brings the time of God’s judgment and vengeance. (Is 61:2b) § 3:17 . MP: The Angel of God’s presence is referred to in Exodus and became their Savior from God. Therefore this Savior is sent from God as Servant, Priest, prophet, and later as King to save, redeem, and establish a people unto God. This establishes that Messiah is the Angel of Yahweh. (Is 63:8-9) Messiah, as the Angel of God’s presence, acted on God’s directive to save and redeem God’s people (Ex 23:20-21, 32:34 with Is 43:11, 49:6) “for God’s name is in him [the angel] (Ex 23:21)”. Note: In combination, this prophecy is a key pin that identifies that “The Angel of Yahweh” who is also called “The Angel of God” who also shares names and titles with God and who identified with Yahweh. This is in fact the Messiah, God’s Servant at God’s right hand, sent to save and redeem by God’s command. (Is 43:11 – God is the only Savior, Is 63:8, Is 53:4-6 – the Servant who is afflicted and is in association with those in iniquity). In (Ex 23:21; Is 40:3, 40:9), the Angel shares titles with Yahweh. In (Gen 22:1-2, 22:11-12; Ex 3:2-4, 13:21, 14:19), the Angel of Yahweh is identified when Yahweh is also being identified. Yeshua says he represents Father God and are equal in (John 5:23, 10:30, 14:1, 14:9-11). For a complete list about “The Angel of the Lord” see Appendix 10. * 3:19 (19-20) MP: Light from God. (Gen 1:3) † 3:32 . MP: Messiah will have the Spirit of God upon Him to accomplish His appointed works from God. (Consider the purpose of the Spirit, Is 11:2). (Is 61:1) ‡ 3:36 . MP: “Kiss the Son” shows God has a Son deserving honor. (Ps 2:12a) § 3:36 . MP: Combined with (Ps 2:6-7, 2:12), this Son is the King whom God installs in Zion and who has a special unique relationship to God. His wrath is not something to be desired. (See also Prov 30:4c). (Ps 2:6-7, 2:12)