#24.1
Nicodemus Visits Jesus
Please
first Read: John 3:1-21
President J. Rueben Clark, Jr.:
“Nicodemus, a Pharisee, visits Jesus secretly by
night; Jesus preaches the first great discourse; declares that except a man be born of the
water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God; the Spirit
leadeth where it will; Jesus will testify of what he knows and what he has
seen; again refers to his crucifixion by citing Moses lifting up of the serpent
in the wilderness, and by saying that God so loved the world that he gave his
only begotten Son to save it; men love darkness more than light; he that doeth
truth cometh to light.”
Jesus has not been two months in his formal ministry.
He is publicly active … the wedding feast at Cana, the miracle of wine, the
attending the Passover Feast, and certainly his appearance at the temple. Jesus
has divided the people. It would appear that Jesus’ act of cleansing the temple
of the money changers has set the battle lines between himself and the Jewish
leaders, and this is possibly what he intended to do. He has openly confronted
the priestly powers of the Jewish nation; announced that God is his Farther, is
openly teaching and performing miracles, and has prophesied he would be slain
and in three days be resurrected. He is now a chief concern of all Palestine
that is aware of him. Certainly he has the animosity of the rulers of the
people. Many are now coming to see and hear him, including a ruler of the
Sanhedrin, Nicodemus.
He calls Jesus “Rabbi” meaning “Master.” “We know” … others too? “thou art a teacher
come from God” … in effect a testimony,” “for no man can do these miracles that
thou doest, except God be with him.” We are left to assume the processes of conversion
continued to operate in Nicodemus.
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee” (John 3:11) … this
brings hostility immediately from the Jewish leaders and from now on. Jesus is
not quoting other prophets, but speaking on his own authority as the Son of God.
This is a blaspheme which they cannot allow.
Nicodemus shows himself to be in spiritual darkness by
asking, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time
into his mother’s womb and be born?” To this Jesus replies, “Art thou a master
of Israel, and knowest not these things?” This had to be a stinging rebuke, but
Nicodemus voices no objection, and continues in conversation with the Lord.
John chapter 3 verse 1: Nicodemus. An example of a
lukewarm believer, not a true disciple. He appears to be a leader and teacher,
and is probably a member of their ruling body, the Sanhedrin. He comes at night
possibly to avoid being seen by his colleagues, although it might have been for
other reasons. Later in Jesus’ ministry when the Sanhedrin is attempting to
arrest him, Nicodemus cautions them to follow the law.
Verse 3: In our mortal fallen state we are all
spiritually dead. To gain salvation in the Kingdom of God (the Celestial
Kingdom) we must put off the natural man and become saints, follow the
spiritual person that we are, and become new creatures of the Holy Ghost, i.e.
be born of water and of the Spirit.
Verse 8: “When the Holy Ghost falls upon a worthy
recipient, it has the effect of pouring out pure intelligence upon him; the
still small voice speaks peace to the spirit within man; and the sanctifying,
cleansing power of the Spirit begins to manifest itself.” (Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith)
Verses 10-12: Jesus chastises Nicodemus … as a teacher
in Israel he should have known of these truths regarding spiritual rebirth and
the prophetic writings about them. Jesus and his disciples are teaching by
testimony and by the Holy Ghost. If they are closed to the Spirit on hearing
earthly things they will not believe what Jesus tells them about heavenly
things.
Verse 16: The only begotten Son of God the Father in
the flesh, meaning in mortality. The natural processes of procreation were
involved.
Verse 17-18: Salvation through Christ. Salvation was, and
is, and is to come only in and through the atoning blood of Christ.
Apostle James E. Talmage:
The wonderful deeds done by Christ around the time of
the Passover moved some of the learned as well as many of the common people to
believe in Jesus. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler among the Jews (probably a
member of the ruling body, the Sanhedrin) was interested at least to the point
of coming to inquire of Jesus. He addressed Jesus as “Rabbi” the same title he
bore and showed due respect to the Lord as he conversed with him. There may
have been more than one reason why he came to Jesus at night … pride of his office
and station in the community, repercussions of being seen with him in view of
Jesus’ recent activities; or like our Bishops and church leaders, busy with
responsibilities during the day they see and have appointments like this at
night; or in the culture of that time,
night time was a good time for learning and study, especially of spiritual and religious
matters. We do not know but should give Nicodemus credit as being honest and
sincere in his purpose.
Interestingly, Nicodemus’ asking how can a man be
‘born again’ (John 3:4) … the idea of a new birth was common in the teachings
of the day. Every proselyte to Judaism was spoken of at the time of his
conversion as one new-born!
Elder Talmage:
“The narrative of this interview between Nicodemus and
the Christ constitute one of our most instructive and precious scriptures
relating to the absolute necessity of unreserved compliance to the laws and
ordinances of the gospel, as the means indispensable to salvation.” (page 162)
(To be concluded)
Glenn R. McGettigan
February 2014; Revised September 2014
References:
“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark
“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie
“The Mortal Messiah.” Book 1. McConkie
“Jesus The Christ.” Talmage
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