Flash forward: Notes

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1. In the Greek, we have a pun: The Greek for born again and born from above is the same (though Jesus would have been speaking in Aramaic).

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2. Literally, "water and the Spirit." We may have here a later "correction" in order to state the church's early criterion that water baptism is necessary for salvation. As the concept of "water" is a metaphor for the Spirit in the Old Testament – and also in John – we might suspect that John either said or meant to say "water of the Spirit."
I am not denying the importance of water baptism. The point of water baptism is to demonstrate to yourself and God that you have made a decision to change your life. Once you have decided for Jesus, then you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit – that is, you are baptized – or awash – in the Spirit. Some Christians may experience a "second blessing" of the Spirit in which they receive the joy of the Lord that for some reason was deficient previously. All who are truly born again receive the Holy Spirit with power, though it may take some longer than others to realize that power. That power might be manifested by the believer suddenly finding he can "speak in tongues" and exhibit other spiritual gifts, as listed in 1 COR 12:7-15. But it should be remembered that the point of spiritual gifts is mainly for use in Christian love and service. Hence, some Christians may obtain gifts that are not specified precisely in 1 COR. In particular, the gift of faith (believing that God can and will do something) even today moves mountains, though often very quietly.
Anyone who claims that if you don't speak in tongues, then you aren't really a Christian might reflect on 1 COR 12:15:

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

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3. The word for wind and spirit are the same in Greek and Hebrew.

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4. Literally: Jesus added, "If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about divine things?"

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5. The evangelist did not have in mind Enoch, who "walked with God" (GEN 5:24), or Elijah, who was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:9-11). Nor was he thinking of the non-biblical report that Mary was assumed directly into paradise. But we quibble. The important point is that no one before Jesus had descended from heaven or ascended back for the purpose of salvation. [Interestingly, the 2 Kings story shows that Elijah's disciple, Elishah, required spiritual eyes in order to see the miracle of his master's translation into another dimension.]

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6. NUM 214-9. The Israelites in the desert who would only look up on the bronze snake would gain earthy life. Those who felt too sick to do so and would not make the effort died. Similarly, those who won't look toward Jesus remain spiritually dead.

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7. At this juncture John inserts a little story that, to bolster new Christians, affirms Christ's supremacy; some of them may have turned to God at the behest of John the baptizer, without learning much about Jesus (ACTS 19:1-7). John's writer has used material not found in the synoptics, though one may detect allusions to the synoptics.,
I have decided to place the John story at a later spot in this book.
John 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples were baptizing people in the Jordan not far from John, who was baptizing on the other side of the river near the Judaean town of Aenon, near Salim, where there was plenty of water. John had not yet been thrown in prison.
(John 4:2 notes that Jesus did not personally baptize people in water.)
Some men were worried about who should be permitted to baptize others – pointing out Jesus – and asked John about it.
John told them, "A person can receive nothing unless heaven has given it. You yourselves heard me say, 'I am not the Messiah, but that I am sent out ahead of him.' The groom gets the bride, while his friend stands next to him, happy to hear his voice. So, this fulfills my joy. He must increase, but I must decrease."

John also has Jesus and his disciples returning to Judaea once the Pharisees learned of the baptisms by his men. I have decided to follow the synoptics on the idea that the Galilean mission came first. On the other hand no one denies that the Jewish elders wanted such activities suppressed and so it is possible Jesus did some preliminary missionary work in Judaea. Nevertheless, I have decided to place that incident elsewhere.
John 4:1-3

When Jesus learned that the Pharisees had discovered that his group was baptizing more people than was John, Jesus decided it was time to leave Judaea and head back to Galilee.