Nicodemus & Born Again

GET READY FOR THE RESET

“Nicodemus & Born Again”

John 3:1-21

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcvg8k0lIuc

Introduction

This past week, as I was looking at the story of Nicodemus’s encounter with Jesus, the Lord kept laying on my heart the word, “quintessential.” And I wasn’t sure why.

The word, “quintessential,” means something that is pure and essential in essence or nature. It also relates to something being the most perfect embodiment of whatever it is that is being discussed.

Thinking about what that means, I thought about the perfect breakfast, which for me is eggs, bacon with hash browns. But for it to be the quintessential essence or example of a great breakfast, the eggs cooked over medium, with the bacon crisp and hash browns that are actually brown on the outside.

And so, thinking about this word and this series we’re on, the Lord opened up for me this word with each of the encounters Jesus had with others that we’ve looked at so far.

The Samaritan Woman at the Well was the quintessential example of what the action and response looks like after the reset God desires in our lives takes place. The Bible records, “The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, ‘Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’” (John 4:28-29 NKJV)

Nathanael was the quintessential example of how we are to deal with the doubts of others, and even our own doubts that arise about Jesus being our Savior and Lord. Philip, friend of Nathanael and fellow disciple of Jesus, told Nathanael to, “Come and see.” (John 1:46)

And then there is Simon Peter, and Jesus’s quintessential call to discipleship, and that is when Jesus said, “Follow Me.” (Matthew 4:19)

Well, today we’re going to be looking at Nicodemus and Jesus’s quintessential definition of what it means come into and have a right relationship with God, and that it isn’t by works, but rather it’s through having a new relationship through a new birth, that is, a spiritual birth, as Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 NKJV)

Open up your Bibles to John chapter 3 as we look at this encounter through probably the most well-known of all New Testament passages. Please follow as we look at this remarkable story and message.

And so, let’s start with Nicodemus. Who is Nicodemus?

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, which at the time of Jesus was the largest and most influential religious party.

The word itself means “separated ones.” That is, they separated themselves from the everyday life of society in order to study, teach, and live their lives based upon the Law of Moses, and their interpretation of it.

Their goal was to live a life of formal observance of the Jewish religion, which also included an entire list of laws and traditions not listed within the Torah. And so, to the Jewish people they were highly respected for their deep devotion and scholarship.

The only problem is that their life was not lived out as a relationship with God, that is, it was not a spiritual walk with God.

It says that Nicodemus was “a ruler of the Jews.” In other words, he was high up there, not only in the order, but was most probably part of the ruling counsel, or the Sanhedrin, which ruled over the religious affairs of the nation and of every Jew. The counsel consisted of 70 men, including the Priesthood, the Sadducees (another religious group), Scribes, and the Pharisees.

Therefore, Nicodemus was well educated and influential. If I could say it this way, if they gave out gold stars for doing religion right, Nicodemus would have the most out of everyone, hands down.

But now we come to the question, “Why did Nicodemus Come at Night?”

Some say that He was curious and needed some clarification, which I believe is true, and he may have been somewhat cautious not wanting his peers to know, which may also have been the case.

But for me, I believe that he was determined to have Jesus all to himself.

There is just something to be said about being alone with Jesus. To get away from the crowd and all the competing voices trying to get our attention, and to be with the Lord and to hear His voice.

Jesus said, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6 NKJV)

I believe that there was an honest seeking after the truth on the part of Nicodemus, and not just to have some philosophical exchange of ideas, which goes to the heart of his opening question. This is where I believe the reset in Nicodemus’s life began to take shape.