#24.2 Nicodemus Visits Jesus

#24.2 Nicodemus Visits Jesus

Please first John 3:1-21

Also referenced: A new translation by Raymond E. Brown

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin (verse 1) who came at night. “Rabbi,” he said to Jesus, “we know you are a teacher who has come from God; for, unless God is with him, no one can perform the signs that you perform.” (verse 2) Jesus gave him this answer, “I solemnly assure you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being begotten from above.” (verse 3)

“How can a man be born again once he is old?” retorted Nicodemus. “Can he re-enter his mother’s womb and be born all over again?” (verse 4) Jesus replied, “I solemnly assure you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being begotten of water and Spirit. (verse 5) Flesh begets flesh, and Spirit begets spirit. (verse 6) Do not be surprised that I told you:  you must all be begotten from above. (verse 7) The wind blows about at will; you hear the sound it makes but do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone begotten of the Spirit.”

(verse 8)

Nicodemus replied, “How can things like this happen?” (verse 9) Jesus answered, “You hold the office of teacher of Israel, and still you don’t understand these things? (verse 10) I solemnly assure you, we are talking about what we know, and we are testifying to what we have seen; but you people do not accept our testimony. (verse 11) If you do not believe when I tell you about earthly things how are you going to believe when I tell you about heavenly things? (verse 12)

Now, no one has gone up into heaven except the one who came down from heaven – the Son of Man (who is in heaven). (verse 13) And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. (verse 14) That everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. (verse 15) Yes, God loved the world so much that He gave the only Son, that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (verse 16)

For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (verse 17) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned for refusing to believe in the name of God’s only Son. (verse 18)

Now the judgment is this: the light has come into the world, but men have preferred darkness to light because their deeds were evil. (verse 19) For everyone who practices wickedness hates the light, and does not come near the light for fear his deeds will be exposed. (verse 20) But he who acts in truth comes into the light, so that it may be shown that his deeds are done in God.” (verse 21)

Commentary:

Nicodemus represents a group among the Jewish leaders who hesitatingly came to believe in Jesus.

Night: There was a rabbinic custom of staying up at night to study the law.

See: Greek: to experience, encounter.                  

Begotten: Greek meaning ‘to be born.’

Sound of the wind: voice of the Spirit.

The Son: John uses this in the absolute sense: THE Son. “Sign” and “miracle” … interchangeable terms in some ancient texts.

                                                                                    

Robert J. Matthews:

Jesus knew how to deal effectively with the cunning craftiness of the Pharisees, the scribes, and the Sadducees. He sometimes asked them doctrinal questions which they, as religious leaders, ought to have been able to answer, but of which they seemed to be ignorant. An example is seen in his interview with Nicodemus.

W. Cleon Skousen:

The Prophet Jacob, 600 years before Nicodemus, pronounced a very harsh judgment upon rabbinical schools, Said he, “Behold they despised the words of plainness … and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came from looking beyond the mark … God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand.” (Jacob 4: 14)

From earliest times, the Gospel culture of the prophets of Israel had taught that the “new birth” of baptism and the gift the Holy Ghost are symbolic of the natural birth.   That is the way it was originally taught to Adam.   But Nicodemus, the typically trained Pharisee, did not recognize the phrase from the Gospel culture which Jesus had just pronounced.

C. Wilfred Griggs:

John 2:23: The Greek translation indicates Jesus had been performing numerous miracles in Jerusalem, and many were gaining testimonies of his divinity based upon these “signs” that they saw. Nicodemus was apparently aware of this and motivated to find out more.

Verse 8: The Greek word “wind” also means “Spirit.” The Spirit breathes wherever it desires and a man may not know from whence it comes or where it will lead him. So, Jesus says, is everyone who is begotten by the Spirit.

Glenn R. McGettigan   

February 2014; Revised September 2014

References:

“Behold the Messiah.” Matthews

“Days of the Living Christ.” Volume 1. Skousen

“Studies in Scripture, The Gospels.” Volume 5. Griggs