John - Chapter 3, Part 1
CHRIST AND NICODEMUS
JOHN 3:1-21
The last three verses of chapter two provide a slight transition into the powerful teaching that we will find in chapter three. All scripture is important for us but there are some passages that seem to shine brighter than others and John 3 is one of those. Here we will view the bedrock foundation footings dug and set by Jesus to establish the firm base upon which His gospel will forever solidly rest.
Here in the first 21 verses we will meet a man named Nicodemus who approaches Jesus and the conversation that happens between them could fill volumes on Christian theology. What will we learn of Nicodemus in these verses?
Who he is and what is his position.
His timid reasoning revealed.
His ignorance.
His instruction by Jesus.
His dullness.
His unbelief.
The power of Christ explained to him.
God's greatest gift of love explained to him.
Why God sent Christ explained to him.
What brings God's condemnation explained to him.
We begin by noting that Jesus is still in Jerusalem starting His ministry after clearing the temple. The scene is set for us quickly in verse 1 as a Pharisee named Nicodemus visits Jesus and is described as a ruler of the Jews. He is therefore positioned highly in the temple leadership, a leadership position.
There are two images that are revealed to us immediately. The first is that he came to Jesus by night. This image begins one of the important themes in John, that of light and darkness. He came to Jesus under the cover of darkness because he did not wish to be seen conversing one on one with Jesus by others in the temple for he already has understood the tension that has begun to exist between Jesus and the Pharisees. He wanted to speak with Jesus but he was afraid to be seen doing so, therefore he allowed the darkness to be his disguise.
This issue is considered so valuable that it is repeated more than once in this gospel. We see in 7:50-51 & 19:39 that the description given of him is his name PLUS the phrase that he had come to Jesus in darkness. Notice also that his fear of personal discovery is extended to his use of the pronoun “we” as he is unwilling to use his own identity and say “I know” but rather hides behind the collective word “we”.
The second image that we are given is another example of teaching from the lesser to the greater. As we look at this conversation, Nicodemus starts out speaking strongly and as the talk proceeds is more and more diminished as the teaching of Jesus increases to this man who thought he knew more than he did know.
In verse 2 Nicodemus speaks 26 words. In verse 4 he speaks 23 words. In verse 9 he speaks 5 words and in verse 10 zero. Meanwhile, Jesus not only completely takes over the conversation but also completely changes the priority of it, granting wisdom to Nicodemus that he did not seek but was blessed among men to receive. Nicodemus begins the talk as a leader of the temple Pharisees and ends the talk as subdued student who has been schooled by the Lord. In verse 10 Jesus also displays a hint of impatience by the use of some scorn as he reminds Nicodemus that he is a master of Israel but is ignorant of the most important spiritual understandings.
The reasoning of Nicodemus is timid when he begins talking and strongly ignorant as shown in verse 4 when he tries to reason new birth physically while Jesus is teaching new birth spiritually. But through his ignorance of more important things, he at least does know that in order to do the miracles Jesus does, He must be sent from God. In 4:48 we will see that Jesus is less than happy with those who will not believe unless they see signs. As we know, He wishes His gospel message to be accepted by faith in God by the heart of man rather than only received if the eye of man see miracles.
Jesus had already had a full day done when Nicodemus came in the night. Notice He did not refuse him the time. Here is a lesson for all sinners. There is no time which is unacceptable to seek Christ. Day or night He remains accessible to any sinner who repents and comes.
As Jesus turns the conversation into teaching moment for this Pharisee, and provides him the wisdom of how the Lord is to be gained from this time until the end of time in new birth, he speaks of this new teaching in seven clear ways:
Supreme importance of the new birth (verse 3)
Instrument of the new birth, water and then spirit (verse 5)
Producer of the new birth, the Spirit (verse 5)
Necessity of the new birth (verse 6)
A new nature, of spirit (verse 6)
No need to marvel (verse 7)
Process of the new birth as compared to earthly wind (verse 8)
Verse 3 holds perhaps the greatest portion of this new teaching: “...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Do we know what is meant by “kingdom of God”? This phrase is not found elsewhere in John. Romans 14:17 helps us:
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost”.
It is this issue that has been and remains the most difficult for many. The new birth is not removal of our inclination to sin. It is not church attendance nor hearing great sermons nor personal study. It is the acceptance that we are and always shall be creatures of sin in need of redemption. That redemption ONLY arrives through acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior, and through faith in Him alone, in His death on the cross, His resurrection from the dead, and His ascension back to Heaven where he prepares a place for those that are His. Until we arrive there by mortal death or rapture, we have received the blessing of His Holy Spirit dwelling within us, and guiding us as we have become a new creature “IN CHRIST”.
We have become like Christ. Just as Jesus was His only begotten Son, sent because He loved His world, James 1:18 teaches us that our new life is also a divine begetting, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth...”.
After verse 9 where Nicodemus asks Jesus “How can these things be”, he disappears from the scene verbally. Now Jesus controls the remainder of the conversation with His glorious teaching, re-educating one who was considered among the highest of the Jews and the temple.
Notice how Jesus uses the same pronoun “we” that was used earlier by Nicodemus as his covering introduction. Jesus replies in kind in verse 11 by telling him
“We speak” “we do know” “we have seen”. But Jesus also reminds him that “... ye receive not our witness” (John the Baptist).
Much has been made of verse 13 with some continually asking how Jesus could make this statement while scripture clearly teaches that Enoch & Elijah were taken into Heaven from earth. The verse needs more careful study to grasp its meaning. Some have used this verse to justify the false doctrine of soul sleep. It is untrue and has no home in scripture. Study teaches us that Jesus says no man “ASCENDED” and scripture teaches that Enoch was “translated” and Elijah rode a whirlwind upward. Only Jesus Christ ascended.
Now Jesus uses the OT story of the brass serpent and Moses to allude to His own lifting up on the cross. Just as those who believed the word of God could save them from the fiery serpents were saved from death, now those who believe on the Son of Man will not perish, but have eternal life. The Jews were expecting a different kind of lifting up, to a throne here and an earthly ruler from their Messiah. They were not able to grasp that the ruler will come and sit on the throne but only after the cross of shame and enduring God's wrath by taking the sin of the world upon himself, redeeming us.
Finally we see that verses 17 – 21 bring us the purpose of God in sending His Christ into the world.
God's intervention into the world of man at this time in this way was not to condemn but to save. The teaching of verse 18 is one of the most graphic in all of scripture. Those who believe on the Son are not condemned. Those who do not are condemned already.
THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND.
THERE EXISTS NO ALTERNATE PATH.
And we also are provided the cause of the condemnation of those who refuse to believe. We see in verses 19 – 21 that man loves the darkness rather than the light that has come into the world in Jesus. Those who do not believe choose the darkness for their deeds are evil and they know that if they come to the light they must repent of them & live in light.
Those who do come to the light of Christ have deeds that may be manifest (easily seen), for their deeds are wrought by God.
