John 3:1-21
“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’” John 3:3
“Nicodemus’ problem was not only a lack of understanding of the new birth, but the difficulties of severing the ties of his old life.” Passages that bother us aren’t the ones we don’t understand but the ones we do understand and aren’t obeying.
One night a man named Nicodemus sought Jesus out to talk with Him. Nicodemus was a very prominent leader in Israel. He was a Pharisee, a member of the most deeply religious group in all Jerusalem. Pharisees were strict keepers of the law and were deeply committed to the idea that salvation was gained by keeping the law. He was a member of the Jewish governing body, the Sanhedrin. Jesus called him “Israel’s teacher”, indicating that he was a trained theologian. He was a VIP in the religious world, a man of recognition, influence, and piety. If anyone could have had a right standing with God on worldly terms, it would have been Nicodemus.
Why did Nicodemus come to see Jesus at night? Most likely he did not want to be seen. Some of his fellow members of the Sanhedrin disliked Jesus. Also, Jesus was usually surrounded by people during the day, and Nicodemus wanted a private audience with Jesus. Most of Jesus’ days were very full, and He was probably tired, but He took time to talk with Nicodemus. Jesus always took time for people, and so should we. Once we commit ourselves fully to God, we are on call 24/7/365.
Nicodemus treated Jesus with great respect, calling Him “Rabbi” and “Teacher”. Jesus was not a seminary graduate, nor was He from the priestly tribe of Levi. He was unknown among the respected Jews of Judea. He was just a carpenter from Nazareth so far as His earthly credentials. Pastor Search Committees would probably have overlooked Jesus and hired Nicodemus. But Jesus’ credentials came from God, not man, and Nicodemus recognized that.
Jesus answered a question that Nicodemus had not asked, when He told His visitor, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Sometimes we don’t even know the questions, but God has the answers for us anyway.
Jesus and Nicodemus were having a discussion on two different levels of understanding. Nicodemus was talking about physical birth, while Jesus was discussing the necessity of spiritual birth. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit.” John 3:6. From our fleshly birth, we are born two thirds alive--physically and mentally--but we lack spiritual life. In order to have spiritual life, we must have a spiritual birth. That means none of our accomplishments by self effort amount to anything in God’s kingdom. In order to belong to God, we must have new life from a new birth. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
We don’t know for sure whether or not Nicodemus was born spiritually but he defended Jesus when the Pharisees wanted to arrest him, and he helped Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus’ body for burial. James says we reveal our faith by our actions.
One night a man named Nicodemus sought Jesus out to talk with Him. Nicodemus was a very prominent leader in Israel. He was a Pharisee, a member of the most deeply religious group in all Jerusalem. Pharisees were strict keepers of the law and were deeply committed to the idea that salvation was gained by keeping the law. He was a member of the Jewish governing body, the Sanhedrin. Jesus called him “Israel’s teacher”, indicating that he was a trained theologian. He was a VIP in the religious world, a man of recognition, influence, and piety. If anyone could have had a right standing with God on worldly terms, it would have been Nicodemus.
Why did Nicodemus come to see Jesus at night? Most likely he did not want to be seen. Some of his fellow members of the Sanhedrin disliked Jesus. Also, Jesus was usually surrounded by people during the day, and Nicodemus wanted a private audience with Jesus. Most of Jesus’ days were very full, and He was probably tired, but He took time to talk with Nicodemus. Jesus always took time for people, and so should we. Once we commit ourselves fully to God, we are on call 24/7/365.
Nicodemus treated Jesus with great respect, calling Him “Rabbi” and “Teacher”. Jesus was not a seminary graduate, nor was He from the priestly tribe of Levi. He was unknown among the respected Jews of Judea. He was just a carpenter from Nazareth so far as His earthly credentials. Pastor Search Committees would probably have overlooked Jesus and hired Nicodemus. But Jesus’ credentials came from God, not man, and Nicodemus recognized that.
Jesus answered a question that Nicodemus had not asked, when He told His visitor, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Sometimes we don’t even know the questions, but God has the answers for us anyway.
Jesus and Nicodemus were having a discussion on two different levels of understanding. Nicodemus was talking about physical birth, while Jesus was discussing the necessity of spiritual birth. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit.” John 3:6. From our fleshly birth, we are born two thirds alive--physically and mentally--but we lack spiritual life. In order to have spiritual life, we must have a spiritual birth. That means none of our accomplishments by self effort amount to anything in God’s kingdom. In order to belong to God, we must have new life from a new birth. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
We don’t know for sure whether or not Nicodemus was born spiritually but he defended Jesus when the Pharisees wanted to arrest him, and he helped Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus’ body for burial. James says we reveal our faith by our actions.
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