What is the meaning of John 3:7? Do not be amazed Jesus meets Nicodemus’ surprise head-on. Instead of entertaining his astonishment, He redirects it. • Astonishment often signals that human expectations have collided with God’s ways (John 3:10–12; Mark 6:51). • Scripture frequently tells believers not to be surprised when God acts beyond natural understanding (1 Peter 4:12; 1 John 3:13). • Jesus’ gentle command, “Do not be amazed,” invites Nicodemus—and us—to embrace revelation rather than skepticism. that I said The weight of the statement rests on who is speaking. • Jesus never speaks on His own authority; His words are the Father’s words (John 12:49; John 14:10). • Because His testimony is divine, it carries final authority—no need to negotiate or revise it (Matthew 24:35). • Accepting His “I said” means yielding to the One who “in these last days has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:2). You must be born again Here is the heart of the verse—an uncompromising necessity, not a suggestion. • The new birth is spiritual, produced by the Holy Spirit, not human effort (John 3:5–6; Titus 3:5). • It brings a new status: children of God, not by natural descent but “born of God” (John 1:12–13). • This birth launches a new creation life (2 Corinthians 5:17) and a living hope through Christ’s resurrection (1 Peter 1:3). • The word “must” underscores urgency: entrance into God’s kingdom hinges on this supernatural transformation (John 3:3). summary Jesus disallows astonishment, anchors His claim in divine authority, and insists on the absolute necessity of the new birth. Accepting His word leads from confused wonder to confident faith, because life in God’s kingdom begins only when we are “born again.” |
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