John 3:1-21
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John 7:-45-52
Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders
45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
John 19:38-42
Burial of Jesus
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Nicodemus is mentioned three different and distinct times in John's gospel...Nicodemus was a Jew, a Pharisee and a member of the ruling council, Sanhedrin, and a Jewish leader...As a teacher of Israel, he was probably very highly respected...And we can probably assume that being a Jewish leader, Nicodemus would know who would have taught Jesus, and any schooling He might have had...And Nicodemus is curious about this young untaught, raw, different kind of Teacher....Nicodemus has heard Him speak and watched the eyes of those listening to Him...So he wants to talk to Jesus...And Nicodemus thinks by Jesus' signs that He had been going around and doing comes from God...It maybe intuition, or something he heard, it maybe faith, but Nicodemus knows that there is something special about Jesus...So he wants to know more about Him and what He knows...
The first time Nicodemus meets with Jesus is a most interesting one, and is a section I love to read and reread...And as I read it, I still get confused...And I think Nicodemus is a brilliant man, one we know that is impressed with His teachings...But I also think he is confused as he listened to Jesus...At the very start he does not even ask Jesus a question...But Jesus knows what Nicodemus has on his mind...Jesus knows the questions in his thoughts and Jesus knows what Nicodemus' is wanting to ask Him...It may be possible even at this time, there has not been a question Jesus has not answered about God or the Kingdom of God...And after hearing Him teach, how could a Pharisee or anyone criticize Him or His teachings?...And those things of Nicodemus being a Pharisee and a Jewish leader mean little to Jesus, but we know Jesus wants him saved...
So this Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a Teacher who has come from God...For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with Him.”...There is no question and Jesus jumps right into talking and teaching about being born again...Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”...And the subject is one which peaks the great interest of Nicodemus...So he asks, “How can someone be born when they are old?”...“Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”...
The ensuing conversation is one of mystery and one of heaven...A subject that Jesus is so well versed in, and Nicodemus has only his imagination and study of Scripture to deduct what Jesus might be saying and teaching him...And as Jesus talks about being born again, then of flesh and Spirit, then of the wind blowing and we do not know where it comes from -we see how much we (and Nicodemus) really know about the things of heaven and earth...No one has ever spoken the way this Man has spoken...
For Nicodemus, he has met someone who actually had answers about the Kingdom of heaven...He probably can feel something about this Man, and says in dismay, "How can this be?"...And even though confused, he does not give up on his belief in Jesus...Jesus conversation ends, but not many things are cleared up about the Spirit, the wind, and being reborn...But Nicodemus has started a relationship with Jesus that does not end here...
Two more time we read about Nicodemus...The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus arrested but they did not arrest Him...And the reason the guards did not arrest Him was that no one ever spoke the way this Man speaks...And some of the Pharisees thought Jesus was deceiving people...They told the guards that no rulers nor any of the Pharisees has ever believed in him...And those listening to Him knows nothing of the law—and therefore there is a curse on them...Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn a Man without first hearing Him to find out what He has been doing?”...The other Pharisees replied, “Are you from Galilee, too?...Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”...
And later with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus will help bury Jesus...Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus...Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders...With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away...He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night...Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds...Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen...This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs...At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid...Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there...
Nicodemus seemed to discover something about Jesus and have faith in Him...He tried to defend Him among the other Jewish leaders...Nicodemus had visited and talked to Jesus...He acknowledged Jesus in front of His enemies, which were Nicodemus' friends and acquaintances...And Nicodemus believed He came from God....And he helped bury our LORD and Savior...