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Jesus and Nicodemus

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John 3:1-3

1’Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Full bible text

John 3 verses 1 to 21

1’Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

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Nicodemus, a man from the Pharisees, member of the Jewish High Council (Sanhedrin) sees Jesus as a teacher / prophet sent by God, who performs special signs.
The Pharisees ('separated ones') are known in Jesus' time for their very strict interpretation and observance of the law of Moses.
Nicodemus begins with: “We know…”

He “believes” in Jesus because of seeing the signs. John 2 verse 23. He thinks he sees the Kingdom of God. However, it is a faith without depth and durability, as the sequel shows.
Jesus' answer indicates that the true vision of the Kingdom of God is only possible if a person is 'born again'. He then explains what this new birth entails.

Jesus' words only raise questions for Nicodemus: 'How can...? This is where his ignorance shows. He could have known from the Old Testament what Jesus meant. For example, Ezekiel 36 verse 25 to 27 states:
25 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 Then I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit will I put within you. I will take away the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put My Spirit within you. I will cause you to walk in My statutes, and to keep My judgments, and to keep them.”
Jesus therefore asks a confrontational question: “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do you not know these things?”
Like Nicodemus, He uses the words “We know…”. He refers to His heavenly descent, and that He speaks on behalf of God the Father. Jesus is the true Teacher of Israel.

Then He speaks about the purpose of His mission: The Son of Man (compare Daniel 7 verse 13, 14) must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness. Numbers 21 verse 9. Being lifted up refers to His crucifixion.
Jesus answered Nicodemus' question: How is a person born again? as follows:
“Whoever believes in the Son of Man (Jesus) has eternal life”
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
The assignment for man is not: be born again, but: believe in God's Son, Jesus.
If someone believes, he/she may conclude that he/she has been born again -by the Holy Spirit.
“For the Son of Man came not to destroy men's souls, but to save them.” Luke 9 verse 56.


Anyone who does not believe in Jesus is already condemned for that reason. (verse 18) The reason for unbelief is that someone by nature prefers darkness to light. He does not come to the Light, to Jesus, so that his 'evil works' are not exposed.
In chapter 3 verse 36 John concludes:
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

In John 7 verse 50, 51 Nicodemus objects to the condemnation of Jesus, without being interrogated first.
And after Jesus is 'lifted up' on the cross, Nicodemus comes to honor Him:
“And Nicodemus (who came to Jesus at night) also came and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds worth.” John 19 verse 39.

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