In our age where ancient wisdom is meeting modern understanding, I’m thrilled to share something extraordinary with you today: a fresh window into one of the Bible’s most profound conversations. The F.O.G Message Bible brings new clarity to Scripture while preserving its sacred depths, and nowhere is this more evident than in its rendering of John chapter 3. Here, in the whispered midnight conversation between a searching scholar and the Divine Teacher, we find eternal truths illuminated with remarkable clarity.
John 3
The Divine Teacher Meets a Seeker
¹ Under the cover of darkness, an influential Jewish leader named Nicodemus* sought out Jesus. As a member of the Sanhedrin, he represented the religious establishment of his day. ² Drawing near to Jesus, he spoke with careful respect: “Rabbi, we recognize that You must have come from God. No one could perform these miraculous signs without God’s presence empowering them.”*
³ Jesus cut straight to the heart of the matter, declaring with divine authority: “I tell you this eternal truth—unless someone experiences a complete spiritual rebirth*, they cannot perceive, let alone enter, the Kingdom of God.”
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The Mystery of Spiritual Birth
⁴ Nicodemus, despite his scholarly background, struggled with this concept. “But how can anyone be born again when they’re already grown? It’s impossible to return to our mother’s womb for a second birth!”
⁵ Jesus elaborated with patience: “Listen carefully to this profound truth: No one can enter God’s Kingdom without being born of water and the Spirit*. ⁶ Physical birth produces physical life, but spiritual birth from the Holy Spirit produces spiritual life. ⁷ Don’t be amazed when I say, ‘You must be born from above.’ ⁸ Think of the wind—it blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you can’t tell where it comes from or where it’s going. This is how it is with everyone born of the Spirit.*”
Divine Mysteries and Earthly Understanding
⁹ Still perplexed, Nicodemus asked, “How can these things possibly happen?” ¹⁰ Jesus responded with gentle rebuke: “You are Israel’s honored teacher, yet you don’t grasp these fundamental spiritual truths?* ¹¹ I speak with absolute authority about what I know and have seen, yet you and your colleagues refuse to accept Our testimony. ¹² If you struggle to believe when I explain earthly illustrations of spiritual truth, how will you believe when I reveal heaven’s deeper mysteries?
¹³ No one has ascended to heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man*. ¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness*, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
The Heart of God’s Love
¹⁶ For here is the most profound truth of all: God loved the world with such incredible intensity that He gave His one and only Son*, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will possess unending life. ¹⁷ God didn’t send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to be its Savior. ¹⁸ Those who believe in Him are not condemned, but those who don’t believe already stand condemned because they’ve rejected God’s only Son.
Light and Darkness
¹⁹ This is the basis of God’s judgment: His light has blazed into the world, but people chose darkness over light because their actions were evil*. ²⁰ Everyone practicing evil hates the light and avoids it, fearing their deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But those living in truth welcome the light, allowing it to reveal that their deeds are accomplished through God’s power.
John the Baptist Testifies About Jesus
²² After this, Jesus and His disciples traveled into the Judean countryside, where He spent time baptizing with them*. ²³ Meanwhile, John was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, where water was plentiful, and people continued coming for baptism. ²⁴ This was before John’s imprisonment.
²⁵ A debate arose between John’s disciples and a Jewish leader about ceremonial purification*. ²⁶ They came to John saying, “Teacher, the one who was with you across the Jordan, whom you identified as the Messiah—He is now baptizing, and everyone is going to Him!”
²⁷ John replied with spiritual wisdom: “A person can receive only what heaven gives them*. ²⁸ You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of Him.’ ²⁹ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The best man, who stands by and listens for him, is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete*. ³⁰ He must become greater; I must become less.”
He Who Comes From Heaven
³¹ “The One who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all*. ³² He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but how few accept His testimony! ³³ Whoever accepts His testimony confirms that God is truthful. ³⁴ For the One whom God has sent speaks God’s words, for God gives Him the Spirit without limit. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands*. ³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
*3:1 – The name Nicodemus means “victor over the people” in Greek, suggesting his elevated social status. His nighttime visit likely indicates both caution and a desire for uninterrupted conversation.
*3:2 – The plural “we” suggests Nicodemus may have been representing a group of interested Pharisees.
*3:3 – The Greek “anothen” carries a double meaning: both “again” and “from above,” creating a powerful wordplay that Nicodemus initially misunderstands.
*3:5 – “Water and Spirit” likely refers to both physical birth (water) and spiritual renewal (Spirit), though some see a reference to baptism.
*3:8 – The Greek word “pneuma” means both “wind” and “spirit,” creating a meaningful parallel between natural and spiritual realities.
*3:10 – The definite article suggests Nicodemus was a particularly renowned teacher in Israel.
*3:13 – This verse emphasizes Jesus’ unique authority to reveal heavenly truth, based on His divine origin.
*3:14 – References Numbers 21:4-9, where looking at the bronze serpent brought healing, foreshadowing salvation through Jesus’ crucifixion.
*3:16 – The Greek word “monogenes” emphasizes Jesus’ unique relationship with the Father—His one and only, or one-of-a-kind beloved Son.
*3:19 – The light/darkness metaphor carries deep significance in John’s writing, representing truth/falsehood and good/evil.
*3:22 – John later clarifies (4:2) that Jesus’ disciples, not He Himself, performed the baptisms.
*3:25 – This debate likely centered on the relationship between John’s baptism and traditional Jewish purification rites.
*3:27 – John demonstrates profound humility, acknowledging that all ministry comes from God’s appointment.
*3:29 – The wedding metaphor beautifully illustrates John’s joy in decreasing as Jesus’ ministry increases.
*3:35 – This verse emphasizes the complete unity and authority shared between Father and Son.
Conclusion
The F.O.G Message’s treatment of John 3 reveals what makes this paraphrase so compelling: its ability to illuminate profound spiritual truths while maintaining their mystery and power. Through careful word choices and illuminating footnotes, it helps modern readers experience these ancient words with fresh eyes, making that midnight conversation with Nicodemus feel as immediate and relevant as if it happened yesterday. As we continue to explore more of what the F.O.G Message offers, I’m excited to share how it bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary understanding, helping us encounter Scripture’s transformative power in new ways.
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