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<DIV><FONT size=4>The longer I think about it the more I believe Jesus is not on
about Baptismal water when he talks to my favourite Irishman (Nick O'Demus. Nor,
I should add, is he on about water for whiskey) but the waters of birth. In
context that makes much better sense. Over all, Jesus doesn't appear too
bothered about baptism, unless, that is, you believe he really is behind MT
28:19. Here he's contrasting human physical birth with divine Spiritual birth in
powerful imagery. And bringing them together. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/marginallymark/MMKJN3117TRIN.html">http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/marginallymark/MMKJN3117TRIN.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=4>Brian McGowan</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The name Nicodemus is very illustrative. It means;
“victorious among his people.” We’ll learn more about Nicodemus in the
next paragraph, but it is interesting to see that even his name was indicative
of his character. The character of this certain man points to the fault of
all people. God does not call us to be victorious among men but instead,
humble before the Lord.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/John/jn_03_01-17.html">http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/John/jn_03_01-17.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Source: Jerry Goebel: 2007 © </FONT><A
style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"
href="http://onefamilyoutreach.com"><FONT
size=4>http://onefamilyoutreach.com</FONT></A><FONT size=4>.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The point being made in verse 15 is that whoever looks to the
crucified Christ, trusting him for their eternal standing before God, that
person finds themselves "in" Christ, ie. identified with Christ on the cross.
They are included in both the humiliation and glory of Christ. They die with him
and rise with him.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/trinitybag.html">http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/trinitybag.html</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Bryan Findlayson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><STRONG>Verses 1-2.</STRONG> Nicodemus is a leader of the
Judeans. (Not "Jews" as per the NRSV. Using the translation, "Jews," misses
John's biting contrast between Jesus, the country bumpkin Galilean, and the
elite Jerusalem-based Judeans.)</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.holytextures.com/2009/05/john-3-1-17-year-b-trinity-sunday.html">http://www.holytextures.com/2009/05/john-3-1-17-year-b-trinity-sunday.html</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=4>David Ewart, 2009</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>3:16, taken in isolation, appears to emphasise Jesus’ death
and invites interpretation from within the framework of vicarious atonement, as
though God sent the son to sacrifice himself on the cross and by that means was
able to give life. It is quite possible, that 3:16, life 3:5, draws on such
traditions (see Gal 2:20; 4:4; Rom 8:4,32), but, read in the context of the
gospel, including its understanding of Jesus’ death, its focus is not an act of
vicarious atonement, but God’s act of giving and sending the Son to make the
Father known. That went on throughout his life and came to a climax in the
lifting up (for the eyes of faith: exaltation through) on the cross (3:14-15).
The salvation and life comes through believing the offer, responding in openness
to the person.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MkTrinity.htm">http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MkTrinity.htm</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>William Loader</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The “serpent” (v. </FONT><A
onmouseover="window.status='Click here to read the text'; return true"
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href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?version=nrs&word=John+3%3A14"><FONT
size=4>14</FONT></A><FONT size=4>) is mentioned in Numbers </FONT><A
onmouseover="window.status='Click here to read the text'; return true"
onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true"
href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?version=nrs&word=Numbers+21%3A9-11"><FONT
size=4>21:9-11</FONT></A><FONT size=4>: there the people were bitten by
poisonous snakes; some died and others became gravely ill. Instructed by God,
Moses mounted (“lifted up”) a bronze snake on a pole. Those who looked at this
emblem (trusting in God) were healed, lifted up, given life. God in his love
provides eternal life to all who believe (v. </FONT><A
onmouseover="window.status='Click here to read the text'; return true"
onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true"
href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?version=nrs&word=John+3%3A16"><FONT
size=4>16</FONT></A><FONT size=4>). If you willfully do not believe, you will
perish. There is no third alternative! God's intention is that you believe,
rather than be condemned (v. </FONT><A
onmouseover="window.status='Click here to read the text'; return true"
onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true"
href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?version=nrs&word=John+3%3A17"><FONT
size=4>17<U>)</U></FONT></A><U><FONT size=4>.</FONT></U></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/btrinm.shtml">http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/btrinm.shtml</A></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><EM>Verse 3</EM>: “born from above”: The NRSV offers an
alternative translation in a footnote: <EM>born anew</EM>. Sanders, J.N. <I>The
Gospel according to John</I> London: Black 1968, thinks that this is
probably what Jesus said. The Greek word, <EM>anothen</EM>, can <EM>from
above</EM>, <EM>anew</EM> or <EM>again</EM>. Although several translations
consider “from above” to be preferable, <EM>anew</EM> fits better with
Nicodemus’ somewhat sarcastic questions in v. 4.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/btrinl.shtml">http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/btrinl.shtml</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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