Nic at Night
John 3:1-21
Intro: Jesus had performed the miracle at Cana and his disciples believed in him. He followed this sign with others as he goes to Jerusalem for the passover. Many believed including many of the Pharisees. Nicodemus seems to have been one of them. Nicodemus was a Pharisee an a member of the ruling Sanhedrin. While Nicodemus has an elementary faith in Jesus, he, like many of the other believing Pharisees, was not ready to give up his place in the Sanhedrin. He knew that if he openly supported Jesus, he would more than likely be expelled from the Sanhedrin in disgrace. Still, Nicodemus wanted to know more about this man Jesus that he had heard so much about. He solves his dilemma of satisfying his curiosity and maintaining secrecy by coming to Jesus at night.
Nicodemus makes three appearances in the Bible, each in the Gospel of John. First, he comes to Jesus by night here in chapter 3. Nicodemus surfaces again in John 7:50-52, when, during a meeting with fellow Sanhedrin council members, he raises a procedural point in Jesus’ favor. Nevertheless, he was still a Pharisee and likely yet unconverted. Nicodemus’ final appearance (John 19:39-42) reveals that the seed Jesus planted by night blossoms in the light of a gloomy day: Nicodemus forsakes his religion by wrapping and burying the crucified body of his Lord. What brought about this transformation from a curious Pharisee to a believer willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus? I believe it began with this visit when Nicodemus comes face to face with Jesus.
Vs. 2 “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
Nicodemus is a diplomat. He begins his conversation with a compliment. He calls Jesus a “Rabbi”which, if he were talking today would say something like “great one” or “master.” He then acknowledges that he, along with other secret disciples (“we”) believed that Jesus has come from God as a teacher. He believes this because of the signs which Jesus has performed. At this point in the Gospel of John, Jesus had performed only one miracle and it was known only to a few. However, Jesus had no doubt performed many other miracles which John did not record. Nicodemus is trying to start the conversation out on a high note. Now, whether Nicodemus really meant what he said or was just making a diplomatic opening, we will never know.
Jesus did not even acknowledge Nicodemus’ statement but went to the main issue that was do doubt on Nidodemus’ mind, how can I be a part of the Messiah’s kingdom. Nicodemus like so many others had a physical idea of the Messiah’s kingdom. That of overthrowing the oppression of Rome and restoring Israel to greatness. Nicodemus wanted to be a part of that kingdom. He wanted Jesus to tell him how. Jesus’ answer however, caught Nicodemus completely off guard. “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”
Born again? Born Again? Nicodemus is dumbfounded. He had expected perhaps some kind of loyalty oath, or some deed of bravery or perhaps the payment of money. Anything but this!! Nicodemus surprise and astonishment is evident in his response in verse 4, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Nicodemus was thinking physically and literally and the suggestion of a rebirth was ridiculous in his mind.
While Nicodemus is reeling from his opening salvo, Jesus continues in verses 5 and 6, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” There is some disagreement concerning the meaning of Jesus’ statement here. Some see the demand of being born both of water and the Spirit is a reference to physical birth (water) and spiritual rebirth (Spirit). However, the more logical view is that Jesus is talking about baptism in which we are immersed in water and receive the renewal of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus continues in verses 7 and 8, “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 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.” Jesus attempts to make the concept clearer by using an illustration. He points out to Nicodemus that he believes in the wind even though he has never seen it. He believes the wind exists because of the effects it has on the environment. Likewise, the Spirit cannot be seen but it’s effects on the spiritually reborn will be obvious.
Nicodemus is still confused. He asks in verse 9, “How can these things be?” By this time, Jesus must be shaking his head for he responds, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?” Nicodemus as a Pharisee was one of the most learned men in Israel concerning the things of God. Yet Jesus’ statements have completely baffled him.
In verses 11-12 Jesus chastises Nicodemus and the other Pharisees for their rejection of Jesus. “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
In verses 13-15, Jesus then presents himself to Nicodemus as the Son of God and Savior of mankind. . “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.” He then tells Nicodemus how he is going to bring about man’s salvation. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” He closes with what one must do to get into the kingdom and have eternal life. “ . . . so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”
Verses 16-21, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
John does not record Nicodemus’ response to Jesus grand statement. John merely says that Jesus went into the land of Judea and continued their ministry. But the impact of Jesus on Nicodemus becomes obvious when we are told in John in John 19:38-39 that Nicodemus was one of the men who took Jesus from the cross, wrapped it and placed it in the empty tomb. Nicodemus had come full circle from a curious Pharisee to a dedicated believer and disciple.
Coming face to face with Jesus is a life changing experience. Nicodemus learned that and so can each one of us if we allow ourselves to go beyond mere curiosity and allow Jesus to penetrate our heart and soul.
