Taking us back a bit, the previous chapter of John contains Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees who demand to know upon who’s authority Jesus is driving out the money changers from the courtyard of the Gentiles (turning the only place that Gentiles can worship God into a marketplace). (Incidentally, a Rabbi was given authority and the title of “Rabbi” (teacher) by the confirmation of two other Rabbis. Jesus’ authority was given by John the Baptist and God.) The Pharisees demanded a miracle that would authenticate Jesus’ authority. Whether the next chapter’s conversation takes place days, weeks, or months later is of little consequence (see previous post); what is interesting to note is that John paired these together in his book in order to make a point. Nicodemus says to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him” (John 3:2), it is almost a direct reflection of the demand by the Pharisees at the end of the previous chapter to have Jesus “prove” his authority by miracles (John 2:18). The Pharisees knew of Jesus’ miracles, but demanded more (a continuing theme in John’s book, the Jews continually demanding more signs from Jesus instead of just faith). Nicodemus himself is a Pharisee, and uses the word “we” when he comes to Jesus. It would seem that not all Pharisees were out to get Jesus. Some saw His authority, recognized His miracles for what they were, and wanted to know more, to understand who He was and why God sent Him.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and, without asking any question, Jesus tells him how to see the kingdom of God. (It may be argued that the rich ruler spoken about in Luke 18 is Nicodemus and that he did, in fact, ask Jesus a question, but it is an unknown.) Jesus’ response to Nicodemus’ statement that Jesus is from God is that, in order to see God’s kingdom, you have to be born again. Nicodemus has no clue what Jesus is talking about. In hindsight, we understand it clearly, but poor Nicodemus was confused. The following is Jesus’ reply:
"…I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8.)
Some images come to mind when reading this. “Born of water,” that’s how we come out; a woman’s water breaks, and someone is born. (I also find it interesting that when Jesus died, the soldier pierced His side and blood and water came out, proving His death.) Then Jesus’ words talk about the wind—the word for Spirit in Hebrew is the same as wind—which also brings the
reader’s thoughts back to Genesis (again, see previous post).
But still, Nicodemus did not understand. Jesus further attempts to explain to Nicodemus who He is and His purpose for being here.
"I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:11-15.)He begins by explaining who He is; that, as teachers, you teach what you know. Jesus knows how to see the kingdom of God because He has been there. Jesus is the only one to have seen God because He is God. Second, Jesus explains why He is there. Verse 14 tells any scholar of the Torah (which, as a Pharisee, Nicodemus was) all they need to know. The story of the Israelites wandering in the desert, complaining again, and then to get their attention, God sends poisonous snakes among them. After many deaths, the Israelites figured out God was not too happy with their complaining and they acknowledged their sin. Moses prayed, and God told him to make a snake, put it on a pole, and whoever looked at it would live (be healed, saved) (Numbers 21:4-9). Just like that situation where the Israelites had to trust God to save them through His provision, Jesus too would be put on a pole and anyone who looks at (in this case to) Him would live. Obviously not literally, but figuratively: belief that Jesus is the Son of God, that He will heal us, is our salvation.
If you continue on through the Gospel of John, a theme emerges of how the Jews, the people chosen by God to belong to God, do not see God at all. Here, Jesus is frustrated with Nicodemus because he clings to his rules and laws (flesh) and does not see that the important thing is our spiritual heart before God. Nicodemus sees that Jesus is a teacher from God because he has seen the miracles Jesus performed, but he still does not see God himself. Because John does not give any further reaction of Nicodemus, we do not know his final reaction to this conversation. However, in John 7:50, Nicodemus challenges the other Pharisees about their zeal in their attempts at killing Jesus, regardless of the law, and then in John 19:39, we see that Nicodemus was one of two people who prepared and wrapped Jesus’ body after his death, bringing 75 pounds of spices. We can probably surmise that he figured out who Jesus was and believed as what he did and the money he spent to bring those spices for the Jewish burial custom was not insignificant.
