Jesus will explain to this Pharisee, Nicodemus, the nature of spirituality. For each human to reach God's spiritual realm, they must first pass through the Earth (the place through which to garner all of that wisdom we spoke of in the end of Chapter 2).
3:1-2 Nicodemus states his belief in Jesus, even though it's contradictory to what he grew up believing (and could get in trouble because of it).
3:3 Jesus begins to teach Nicodemus (and us) about attaining life in the spirit with God. Each soul must be humbled in the experience of life on earth before reaching God's spiritual eternity. "Born again" is to pass away on the earth and to come into life in the spirit.
3:4 Nicodemus did not understand the concept at first -- understandable, it's a complex concept.
3:5 No soul of humanity's can enter the kingdom of God without dousing themselves in the instruction of God here on Earth.
3:6 There is a distinction between the bodies we live in and the souls which live within us. Choosing to live a life that serves our body (giving in to corruption in order to gain wealth, power, fame) is a reproduction of the "flesh." Opposite that, choosing to live a life that serves our soul (giving in to compassion, humility and selflessness) is a reproduction of the spirit.
3:7 Jesus does not want Nicodemus (or us) to become confused by the concept. By being here on earth, our arrival to the spirit is inevitable -- but in order to stay there, to enter the kingdom of God, we have to make decisions which reproduce spirituality in the world.
3:8 Jesus makes a comparison for our understanding: Even though we cannot see the wind, where it came from or where it goes, we know that it's there, that it exists. Even though we cannot see our souls and do not know where they came from or where they go, they exist. Jesus explains that our souls come from God and that on earth we choose their direction...we choose where we will end up: heaven (born again) or nowhere.
3:9-10 Nicodemus is stunned... but Jesus reminds Nicodemus that these concepts are written of in the very book he reads and teaches from.
3:11 Jesus explains the truth of His words, His personal experience of their truth. Nicodemus claims to believe Jesus and yet he denies the concepts that come from him. Nicodemus is on a journey (like we all are) and even though he starts out confused and a little backward, he eventually becomes wise and faithful.
3:12 Jesus knows that Nicodemus has the ability to understand these truths as long as he opens his heart and mind to them. Jesus cannot go further into His teaching unless Nicodemus delves into deeper thought. Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is to observe and listen and be open to changing out perspective on things.
3:13-14 Jesus came directly from heaven to teach concepts desperately needed by the Earth. Similarly, Moses was sent and received by God in the spirit for being the faithful vessel through which God's instruction was brought into the world.
3:15 Those who believe in God and work with Him in compassionate purpose, never perish... they are indeed born again into His kingdom after their time on earth.
3:16 God so loved the world... God so loves humanity that He uses every attempt to guide and love them. Despite the negativity Jesus' life on earth would cause adversaries to bring... God's love for humanity convinced Him that the good of it would outweigh the bad. It's painful for God to watch any child of His suffer (me, you, us included), but Jesus' willingness to come to earth to love and lead so many inspired Him to allow it.
Everlasting life truly awaits His children.
3:17 This is an important distinction: Jesus was not sent to control and reprimand humanity. Jesus was sent to love and guide, forgive and exercise patience on humanity. Our God is kind; He works with kindness and humility.
3:18 Jesus is a representation of compassion, humility and truth... this verse means to say that those who do not agree with God's way of compassion, humility and truth, subsequently reject Him. When someone rejects God, their life becomes difficult -- but only because of the repercussions of their own decisions (not because of punishment from God). When someone lives a greedy, deceptive life, they have no peace of mind... no happiness or faith and without those things, life is very difficult. That person condemns themselves to that kind of life.
3:19 It's just fact that some souls reject the Light (love and life of God) and choose darkness (deception and greed). On earth, we are given the opportunity to create ourselves: to determine if we are children and proponents of light or of darkness.
3:20-21 By living, behaving and treating people with evilness, a person rejects (hates) the Light. By behaving and treating people with compassion, a person rejects (hates) the darkness. Our lives are a series of choices which determine which side we hate.
3:22-24 The following versus will again reveal the depth of Jesus' humility and the truth of His faith and love for God. He and the disciples continue to journey and here they reach John who is continuing his life purpose of leading people toward God.
3:25-28 John's students noticed that Jesus is participating in baptizing people (which they thought only John had the authority to do). John explains to them that he has always denied being Jesus -- and also that Jesus is the only entity through which they can pass into heaven.
John's method of baptism is a ceremonious and public symbol of a person choosing that be faithful in God. John explains that the true baptism is not in the ceremony, but is in the soul. Even if a person is symbolically baptized, it does not ensure their place in heaven -- their actions and lives on earth determine their eligibility (and that is a baptism by Jesus -- He gives the passage into Heaven).
3:29 This is a metaphor John teaches through: John is the joyous friend. Jesus is the bridegroom, He who humanity unites with. John is filled with happiness and faith even to see his friend (Jesus) accomplish His mission of uniting with God's children.
3:30 John humbles himself, knowing that Jesus rise is necessary to guide and love humanity. This crowd of people is so used to loving and celebrating John -- and that's fine, but John teaches them that Jesus is even more kind, more innocent, more spiritual than he is.
3:31 John reiterates the distinction between earth and spirit. The spirit is pure, unadulterated compassion and therefore is better and cleaner in quality than the earth (where corrupt does exist). Jesus is directly from the spirit and therefore His "above" all in quality. But remember that Jesus is humble... He does not come to earth to control and punish... He comes as a servant of God just like the rest of us (that's part of what makes Him so perfect).
3:32 Jesus teaches His truth to the earth but, look around, few people accept it and adopt it into their lives.
3:33 Jesus' life and instruction certifies God's truth... and the world needed that, will see it again.
3:34-35 God sent Jesus to speak His truth... Jesus' entire life is a manifestation of everything God stands for. God could trust Him to deliver the compassion message without hesitation or flaw. God could and can trust Jesus and therefore Jesus is worthy of being a manifestation of everything God is.
3:36 I think a lot of people and religions scare a lot of students into thinking that they are doomed if they do not believe in Jesus, specifically as the Son of God. There are billions of people in the world, all from varying cultures, locations, religions, spirituality... it would be absurd to think that God would carelessly throw those people to the side. There are MANY ways to be of God.
Regardless of religion, if a person believes in the same message Jesus taught: compassion, humility, truth, then that person is of God. We all take our separate paths but God walks along with us when we choose kind ones. Do not become ensnared by religion -- remember that God loves all of His children. God's objective is not to create a mass of people who worship Him in particular ways --- God's objective is to have a family of compassionate children who love each other, promote and create love and light (and there are many diverse ways to do that).
