John 3: 1-15

As the Holy Spirit worked in John to guide him into all truth 16:13 and to bring to his memory what Jesus had said 14:26, he bore witness to Jesus’ recognition of human worth.  He selected a number of incidents to show Jesus’ awareness of the potential for Christian character and service which was latent even in people whom others would think hopeless. 

Before we consider the encounter with Nicodemus…let’s review 2:24-25.  “He knew human nature…He could read human hearts.  He knew that people would be attracted to Him because of His powerful miracles alone…but that would not bring lasting trust.  Man must be made to understand his lostness and need of a Savior Who could cause him to be “born from above” and give to him the “living water” of eternal life.  Hence the next happening that John records. 

The miracle of changing water into wine – necessity of new creation and the purification of the temple – necessity of cleansing set the stage for Jesus encounter with Nicodemus…for he represented the religious establishment of the day. 

In verse 3:1-21 we have the interview with Nicodemus that we, who have attended church much of our lives, are very familiar.  Nicodemus would stand on the top rung of life’s ladder of achievement.  He was a mature man and had been successful in accomplishments.  He was held in high esteem as ‘ruler of the Jews’.  Nich was Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin (7:50).  He was responsible for teaching the religious law and interpreting it.  His conduct was unquestionable. 

1.    Nichodemus was a conscientious inquirer 3:1-2, 4, 9 He had practiced legalism personally; taught it zealously and enforced it rigidly; yet he felt hunger in his soul.  There was something deep within his heart which the law could not satisfy.  Laws provided a well-ordered system, but they lacked heartbeat; they could not give life and love.  Laws could give guidance, but they could not provide forgiveness for past mistakes. 

 

Apparently old Nicodemus had observed Jesus a lot.  We don’t know what attracted his attention…could have been the glow of the Master’s personality, the spark of his dynamic spirit as he cleansed the Temple, or his growing influence throughout the nation…we cannot be sure.  Perhaps he had heard it said that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law of Moses, writing truth in the hearts of men instead of on tablets of stone.  Whatever led to the interview, Nicodemus had been impressed with what he had heard and seen. 

 

It could be that he had honestly evaluated his own soul needs and inadequacies, existing in spite of his diligent efforts toward holy living.  He earnestly desired to see Jesus and converse with Him about the elements of warmth which made His life so outstanding.  But could a Jewish ruler dare to approach Jesus?  Criticism against Jesus began to develop early in His ministry 2:18-21 and for Nicodemus to be seen in the presence of Jesus could be the beginning of the end of his political career.  Yet something drove him to take that chance.

 

It is unfair to criticize Nicodemus for going to Jesus by night.  When the possible risks are taken into account, he should be commended for having gone at all.  That is more than many men have done who have had far less at stake.  The night visit also might imply that it was a PERSONAL MISSION…not as an official representative of the Pharisees. 

 

Nicodemus dared to follow the inner yearnings of his own soul.  In his going to Jesus, things seemed upside down…this was the older man seeking the younger.  (but not because of his age…but Who He is)…the rich seeking the poor…the schooled approached by the unschooled so they may gain more information…HERE the man of formalized, academic training sought out the Person Who had never sat in a formal classroom of higher education was the one doing the seeking.

 

The elder, rich, educated…sought truth and help from the youthful Jesus, who was without earthly possessions and no place to lay His head…but Jesus had much to teach.  Somehow the inquirer, Nicodemus sensed that fact deeply and sought personal conference in the late hours of darkness. 

 

2.   The Alert Evangelist 3:3, 5-8, 10-13

Nicodemus spoke up quickly as he spoke partial truth.  “A teacher…come forth from God…no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him.”  All of these statements were true…Jesus was a Teacher, the Master Teacher, but that was not the mail purpose of His coming.  He was sent from God for a miraculous work on earth, but He was more than a heavenly ambassador.  He did show His mastery over disease, demons, death and nature…Yet, miracle-working was not the basic purpose of His ministry.  IF these things were all Jesus came to do, a sinner would be hopeless in his need.

 

And then came Jesus’ words:  “except a man be born again…”  It seems irrelevant…yet it did speak directly to Nicodemus’ observation.  Jesus was saying that although He had done all the things Nicodemus had named, these did not constitute His main mission to earth.  His basic purpose was to be the Savior, to bring new birth to men. 

 

Nicodemus reacted with a revealing question, “How….?  He did not ask HOW?  Nicodemus it seems did not question his NEED for salvation…he only questioned the POSSIBILITY of it. 

v. 5-6  ‘born of water’ – natural birth…contrasted to ‘born of Spirit’ .  It is not enough to be born in the flesh…men must be born of the Spirit.  Water – could refer to water baptism or natural birth (which is what I have always believed it meant).  Spirit refers to renewal or regeneration.  To be born only once can be a tragedy…to be born twice is glorious.  “The man who is born once only is destined to die twice; the man who is born twice now dies but once.  Here is a matter of much mystery.”

(Physical birth is NARROW…only one way!)

 

Jesus compared the work of the Holy Spirit to the unseen, but powerful wind.  Nicodemus surely caught the meaning of the figure of speech as in the O.T. there are many passages which refer to the Spirit coming upon a man in some special manifestation.  Nich did not seem to understand but did not react when Jesus claimed to know of heavenly things through personal experience. 10 – 13

 

The LORD reminded Nich of the words and works…He has been performing as authenticating the truth of what He is saying. 

 

The Pharisees taught that one of 2 things was necessary for entering into the Kingdom…*being born a Jew OR * personal righteousness demonstrated by external conformity to the Law.  Jesus presented the heart of the Truth to Nicodemus. 

Jesus spoke of the event in Numbers 21: 5-9…You cannot explain how a look at the serpent of brass could help a sick man, but it did.  When the people accepted the plan given them by God, they received physical healing.  Even so, the Son of man must be lifted up and trust in Him will bring spiritual life to those who accept God’s plan.  The Provision of deliverance can only be received, it cannot be earned or merited. 

 

In verse 16, we are given one of the most glorious texts of the Scriptures.  God is shown as the greatest Giver.  Jesus is declared as the greatest Gift; and salvation is proclaimed as the greatest guarantee. 

 

Nicodemus walked away from the interview apparently impressed.  But he departed without open commitment as far as we can tell.  Maybe the cost was too great???

 

Deliberating these matters of soul need and God’s redeeming grace and mercy, Nich went away silently.  We must assume though that something significant had happened within him.  Indications are that he thought he could be a secret disciple. 

 

The last mention we have of Nich is found in 19:38-42…he was one of the two men that came to claim the body of Christ.  It seems logical to believe that he had caught the truth of Jesus words and having reached his conclusion, braved the opposition to declare publicly his belief in Jesus as the Christ.