NICODEMUS – HE IS BORN AGAIN AT THE CROSS – JESUS WAS LIFTED UP
THE CHARACTERS OF JOHN’S GOSPEL - NICODEMUS PART 2
MESSAGE – NICODEMUS PART 2
Part 2 is the continuation of the Message in Part 1.
John 3 v 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going - so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” John 3:10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things? John 3:11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak that which we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, and you do not receive our witness. John 3:12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things? John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man. John 3:14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, John 3:15 that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life, John 3:16 for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life, John 3:17 for God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.
5. Verses 7 and Verse 8. This word “marvel” used in some translations means to be “amazed, astonished, filled with wonder”. Nicodemus was at a loss. Nothing like this had ever passed by his ears, but here he spoke to a Man with authority and certainty. The message that Nicodemus had to get, was this - his need to be born again; in fact, it was absolutely necessary that he be born again. Too many churches have forgotten that there is an entry into God’s kingdom, the necessity for the new birth, in order to become children of the living God, and instead, they seem to be content that people just come to church. Why, one might be in a church all one’s life and not be a child of God because he or she has not been born again.
Verse 8 is the illustration Jesus gave from the natural world to help explain the working of the Holy Spirit in the spiritual world. The Spirit has His own will performing the desire of the Godhead, and you see Him working here and working there. As you can hear the sound of the wind in the physical world, so too, you can see the results of the Spirit in conversion in the spiritual world and work. The Holy Spirit is crucial in a person’s being born again as we covered earlier, because it is He who convicts the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgement.
6. Verses 9 and 10. Out of his confusion, Nicodemus asks the question. What he asks is how can these things be possible? All this was strange to him, all of it was new, yet, in verse 10, Jesus indicates he should have known all this, because he was the teacher in Israel. It is actually a reprimand for this scholarly man who knew the Torah, but not the spiritual realities of it. The translation of “the teacher” and not “a teacher” is the correct one. Here was a man in the highest plane of Jewish teaching, yet he was ignorant of the very core of scripture. It is like a modern man who is fully versed in theology and has PhDs to his name, but is not born again, and believe me, many of them exist. There are numerous references in the O.T that suggest the new birth, and the teacher would be expected to know them.
7. Verse 11 and Verse 12 and Verse 13. In verse 11, Jesus gives a personal witness to His ministry. The Lord spoke what He knew and saw, which all makes sense as He was the Creator of all things. He uses the plural “we” that means the Father and the Son. He preached and He taught, but in a personal note here to Nicodemus, Jesus added that “you do not receive our witness,” the “you”, being plural, referring to the truth-rejecting Pharisees. Jesus draws the line here with the witness of the Father and the Son on one side (which is why the plural “we” was used), and the witness of the Pharisees on the other side of the line. Verse 12 is a plain question of logic. The legalistic Pharisees rejected what Jesus said about the physical life, so how could they possibly believe what He said about the spiritual life? Verse 13 is a fact about heaven. No one had ascended into heaven before the cross (the Ascension actually), but the Lord has ascended and descended.
Regarding this ascending into heaven, “What of Enoch and Elijah?” some may ask. Yes, they ascended into the heavens, which is the atmospheric heavens, and they went to Paradise, but they did not go to heaven, the dwelling place of God. We must mention the story of Lazarus and the rich man, Lazarus going to Paradise into Abraham’s bosom, and the rich man into hell. The point is, that no one before the cross, or to be absolutely correct, until the resurrection happened, ever went to heaven. The reason was that they/all were unfit to enter heaven. It was impossible because there was still a sin problem. When Jesus died as the Substitute, then all the sins of those who had trusted God, were taken away forever, because the penalty for those “covered over sins” had been met at last. Until that point, the redeemed rested in Paradise with Abraham. Even the repentant thief, and the Lord Himself, entered Paradise. The great transition happened with the resurrection and ascension of the Lord, when the spotless saints of the O.T. could at last enter heaven. The verse for this is - Ephesians 4 v 8 “Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” There is no longer any Paradise, and the word today is loosely used as a synonym of heaven.
In verse 13, He calls Himself by one of the Names He has, and used extensively in the Gospel of Luke – the Son of Man. This Name is wonderfully united with another Name – the Son of God. John writes in chapter 1 of the eternal existence of the Word who was God (verse 1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Then He wrote in verse 14, that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The divine, pre-existent Word is the Son of God; and the Word becoming flesh, is the Son of Man. He will be always the Son of God and the Son of Man.
The four gospels are distinctive in their emphases as to the Person and work of Christ. Matthew sets Him forth as the King of the Jews and focuses on the kingdom. Mark is the Servant gospel and his favourite word is “immediately” or “straightway” as you’d expect of an obedient servant doing the Master’s business. Luke is the gospel of the Son of man as Luke displays Jesus in all His wonderful humanity. John is the gospel of the divine One, showing Jesus Christ to be God the Son, and the Son of God.
8. Verse 14 and Verse 15 and Verse 16 and Verse 17. These four verses are among the best known in the whole bible, extremely precious in their truth, but we must note that they go together. We take them, I know, in isolation, especially verse 16, but the three go together as one and must be kept that way. I am not adding to God’s word (I know the penalty for that), but what the four verses in unity say is that – “Moses raised the serpent on a pole in the wilderness, and those at that time who looked believingly, were healed; so the Son of Man will be raised up on a pole so all might believe in Him and be healed; for God loved everyone and sent the Son to be raised up like the serpent on the pole, that all those looking and believing, won’t see death, but will have everlasting life. Jesus came into the world to save”. Galatians 3 v 13 says “cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”. Looking up to the serpent of brass on the pole, the Israelites saw that the very thing that had put death and ruin on them, had been triumphed over, completely conquered . . . . and so, as we look to Christ, crucified, made a curse, bearing sin, we see sin judged, condemned and triumphed over, robbed of its power, and stripped of its strength. There is so much I could say about all these verses; indeed, a message on each verse, but I want to look more this time at Nicodemus. That teacher of the Law, a member of the Sanhedrin knew about the Law of Moses, and the serpent on the pole, and penalty for sin, and the provision of God.
Verse 16 is the most famous verse in scripture, sometimes being called, the gospel in a nutshell, or “the bible in miniature” according to Martin Luther. Books have been written on it. Thousands of dissections of the verse have been done, e.g. “God” – the greatest possible Giver – “so loved” -the greatest possible depth of reaching out, etc. John Calvin wrote – “Christ brought life because the heavenly Father loves the human race, and wishes that none would perish. Christ employed the universal term “whosoever”, both to invite indiscriminately all to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers. Such is the importance of that word, “world”.” But . . . returning to Nicodemus.
Now the Lord brings it home to him by declaring that He will be the One on the pole, that through Him there will be life, even in a new realm – eternal life. In the mind of Nicodemus, resting there in his heart, was the idea of a new birth, and sin and penalty and deliverance. John says nothing about Nicodemus believing or being saved, and I don’t think he was, not at that point in his life. It is very hard for a legalist to be converted, and there are consequences like losing face, or being kicked out of whatever you might belong to. The seed had been planted by the Son of man Himself, in Nicodemus’s heart, and it would rest in that soil until it germinated into the new birth. There have been some people who have heard the word in Sunday School and for 40 and 50 years the seed lay dormant, but in God’s time it sprang up into eternal life. Never despise a word in season. Never fail to sow the good seed.
9. Verse 17. This verse explains the Lord’s first coming – it was not for judgement, but for salvation. That is why He only partly read the Isaiah passage – See Luke 4 v 16-21. See also Isaiah 61 v 2. Isaiah 61:2 “to proclaim the favourable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;”
[C]. HIS NEXT MENTION - DEFENCE
We come further on in John, and read this - John 7 v 47-52 The Pharisees therefore answered them (the officers), “You have not also been led astray, have you? No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he, but this multitude which does not know the Law is accursed.” Nicodemus said to them (he who came to Him before, being one of them), “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered and said to him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”
I don’t think there was any way Nicodemus could have done this before meeting Jesus. He was not saved, but the seed was still resting. However, that man knew there was something very special about Jesus and he offered this weak defence of Him. What Nicodemus said to them was fully legal according to the Sanhedrin rules, but the hate of the Pharisees blinded any sense of justice as far as they were concerned. Nicodemus appealed to the Law which they all should have known, and the relevant verses are in Deut 1 v 17 “You shall not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear man for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.” and Deut. 19:15 A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed. On the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed. Those fellow members of the Sanhedrin, instead of listening, sneered and insulted Nicodemus. As it was, they were wrong about the prophets because Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Jonah and probably Obadiah, were Galilean prophets.
[D]. HIS LAST MENTION IN SCRIPTURE - ACTION
The final account of Nicodemus sees him turned right around. We see him come along with, or to, Joseph of Arithmathea straight after the body of the Lord was removed from the cross because all had to be completed before 6 pm. Isaiah prophesies this clearly - Isa 53 v 9 His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. Joseph of Arithmathea was a wealthy man (Matthew), an honourable counsellor (Mark) who waited for the kingdom of God. He was a good and just man, and did not consent to the death of Christ (Luke). He was a secret disciple of the Lord. Now this honest man came boldly into Pilate’s presence to ask for the body of the Lord. It is an interesting thought that it was a Joseph who was the first to handle the infant Lord when He was born, and it was a Joseph who was the first to handle the body of the Lord after death when he took him from the cross for burial. Nicodemus came boldly, along with Joseph to take the Lord’s body to the tomb. There was no more night activity; no more coming under the cloak of darkness. Nicodemus was open and exposed. This is the account as John recorded it - John 19 v 38-40 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus and Pilate granted permission. He came therefore, and took away His body, and Nicodemus came also, who had first come to Him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. They took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices as is the burial custom of the Jews.
We must ask ourselves, “How come Nicodemus is openly declaring himself to be a sympathiser of Jesus of Nazareth in the face of the Pharisees?” I have no doubt the truth seized him, as the Holy Spirit laid conviction and understanding upon Nicodemus’s heart, and he saw in that One on the cross that day, the very fulfillment of the serpent being lifted up, so that all who looked in faith on Him might be saved. He came to realise his salvation rested in Jesus, and that by believing in Him, he would not perish but have eternal life. He was born again that day. Nicodemus made that decision to give his life to God and now his action here proved it, as he wrapped the body of his Saviour in linen and spices. Nicodemus brought along myrrh and aloes, about 34-35 kg weight (75 pounds). This was the love and tender care Nicodemus had now gained in his new life to wrap the body of the Lord, but there was no need to do that from one aspect, because the Lord’s sinless body would see no decay. Yes, that’s right, he would not see corruption, because decay is from sin. Psalm 16 v 10 “for You will not abandon My soul to Sheol. Neither will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.”
In John 12 v 7 we read, after Mary had anointed Jesus with the costly nard oil, - Jesus therefore said, “Let her alone in order that she may keep it for the day of My burial.” If Mary's one litre had filled the whole house with scent, Nicodemus's 34 kg must have wafted all over the place. Its strong and bitter scent was unmistakably recognised by everybody in the wide surroundings.
This was not an embalming. To the Jews, draining a corpse of its blood and removing certain organs, constituted a horrendous desecration of the human body, and even the bodies of executed criminals were treated with respect (Deuteronomy 21 v 23). Neither Mary nor Nicodemus intended to embalm Jesus. It was the preparation awaiting resurrection. It is said by some that Nicodemus never went there to bury Christ. He went there to see Him be "born again," just as Jesus had explained to him when the first meeting took place. The only other time that word myrrh sµ???a (smyrna) occurs in the gospels, is in the nativity story, when the magi from the east gave it to Mary and Jesus after He was born the first time (Matthew 2 v 11). Christ is the firstfruits of the grave, the first-born among many brethren - Rom 8 v 29 for whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.
These two men worked very hard for the body was taken from the cross after 3 pm and all had to be completed by 6 pm, the Jewish Sabbath. He who created the world and possessed everything, was buried in a borrowed tomb. When He was born into the world, He was found by the shepherds in a borrowed manger.
We have just completed the last mention of Nicodemus in scripture but that man today is with the precious Lord he tenderly cared for in the burial of the Saviour. There is a special relationship between Nicodemus and Jesus. I am so thrilled that this old Pharisee came to know the One who was lifted up for him, as Moses lifted up the serpent, that whoever looks to the One judged for our sins, will be saved. You, too can become a born again child of God if you have never ever done that. If you are not sure you are a Christian, give your life afresh to the Saviour. Join Nicodemus in being born again!
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
