John 3:14-15

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 3:14-15

John 3:14-15. And as Moses lifted up— Our Lord, by telling Nicodemus that the death of the Messiah was prefigured by types in the law, shewed him, that it was agreeable both to the doctrine of Moses, and to the councils of heaven, that the Messiah should be in a suffering state; consequently he insinuated, that the meanness of his present appearance upon earth was no reason why Nicodemus should doubt of his having come down from heaven. The type that he mentioned as prefiguring his sufferings,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 3:14

14-16. And as Moses, c.—Here now we have the "heavenly things," as before the "earthly," but under a veil, for the reason mentioned in :-. The crucifixion of Messiah is twice after this veiled under the same lively term—"uplifting," John 8:28 John 12:32; John 12:33. Here it is still further veiled—though to us who know what it means, rendered vastly more instructive—by reference to the brazen serpent. The venom of the fiery serpents, shooting through the veins of the rebellious Israelites, was... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 3:1-21

3. Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus 3:1-21John now presented evidence that Jesus knew people as no others did and that many believed in His name (John 2:23). This constitutes further witness that He is the Son of God. John summarized several conversations that Jesus had with various individuals in the next few chapters. They were remarkably different types of people, yet they all responded positively to Jesus. The first man was a representative of Pharisaic Judaism. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 3:13-36

C. Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem 2:13-3:36John is the only evangelist who recorded this trip to Jerusalem and the things that happened then."In distinction from the Synoptics, John’s record focuses mostly on events in Jesus’ life that took place in Jerusalem, and especially at the Passover feasts." [Note: Bailey, p. 164.] Josephus indicated that as many as three million Jews occupied Jerusalem during the Passover feasts. [Note: Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, 6:9:3; cf. 2:14:3.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 3:14

In another sense Jesus would rise up to heaven. The Ascension is not in view here. Jesus’ enemies lifting Him up toward heaven as Moses lifted the serpent on the pole toward heaven is in view (cf. Numbers 21:4-9). In the wilderness God promised the Israelites that whoever looked on the bronze serpent would receive physical life and not die.This is Jesus’ earliest recorded prediction of His death. It is an allusion to death by crucifixion (cf. John 8:28; John 12:32; John 12:34). Wherever the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 3:15

The purpose of Jesus’ uplifting, as was the purpose of the uplifting of the bronze serpent in the wilderness, was the salvation (deliverance) of those who believed. By comparing Himself to that serpent Jesus was teaching that whoever trusted in Him and His death would receive eternal life.This is the first reference to eternal life in this Gospel. Eternal life refers to the life of the age to come, namely, the kingdom age and forever after. It is life that one experiences normally after... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - John 3:15

3:15 on (a-6) Eis , as in ver. 36; chs. 4.39; 6.29,35,40. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:1-36

The New Birth. John’s Testimony to Jesus1-15. Conversation with Nicodemus. The ministry at Jerusalem, though disappointing, was not fruitless. Christ’s miracles and teaching had made an impression, not only on Nicodemus, but as Nicodemus himself says (John 3:2, cp. John 12:42), on other members of the Sanhedrin. This interview took place by night, on account of the timidity of Nicodemus (cp. John 7:50), and probably in St. John’s house at Jerusalem, the evangelist himself being present.... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 3:14

(14) And as Moses lifted up.—This verse is closely connected by the conjunction “and” with what has gone before. Jesus has taught that in Himself heaven and earth meet; so that, while subject to the conditions of human life, He, the Son of Man, the representative of humanity, is in heaven. He goes on to show that what is true of the representative is, through Him, true of the whole race. Again the Old Testament Scriptures form the basis of the teaching to their expounder. The people in the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 3:15

(15) Not perish, but . . .—These words have been added here from the following verse. Omitting them, the sentence should be rendered, that every one who believeth may have in Him eternal life. This construction is borne out by a comparison of John 5:39; John 16:33; John 20:31. “To believe in Him” is not used by St. John. (See Note on John 1:12.) The thought of this verse is that as every Israelite, believing in God, had in the brazen serpent a message from God; so every man who believes in God... read more

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