John 3:2 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.”
Let us do a little revision of the previous presentation
This visit took place on the Mount of Olives, probably not long after the First Cleansing of the Temple, recorded in ch. 2:13–17.
Let’s read it:
Joh 2:13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Joh 2:14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.
Joh 2:15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.
Joh 2:16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
Joh 2:17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE HAS EATEN ME UP.”
Nicodemus had witnessed that dramatic incident, and had no doubt heard Jesus and witnessed some of His miracles (ch. 2:23).
Joh 2:23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.
He certainly shared with other Jews the hope for a political Messiah who would free the nation from the shackles of Rome, and must have been perplexed as Jesus explained the spiritual nature of His kingdom.
Nicodemus was cautious by nature, and did not openly declare himself a follower of the humble Nazarene until after the crucifixion. The seed planted upon this occasion fell on fertile ground, eventually to bring forth a bountiful harvest.
By night. Aware of the attitude of the leaders generally toward Jesus, Nicodemus considered it wise not to compromise his reputation or position by letting it be known that he took Jesus seriously enough to seek a personal interview with Him. This precaution lent weight to Nicodemus’ efforts to divert the leaders from their purpose to arrest Jesus.
We know. Nicodemus was satisfied with the evidence of divine approval apparent in Jesus’ words and works.
The other leaders enjoyed equal opportunity to observe and consider the nature of Jesus’ credentials, and no doubt knew as well as Nicodemus the conclusion to which the evidence pointed, but pride and perversity of heart prevented them from acknowledging its validity as Nicodemus did.
He was one of the “many” of ch. 2:23 who “believed.”
John 2:23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.
John 3:2 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.”
A teacher. Gr. didaskalos (see on ch. 1:38), a title of respect.
Joh 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”
Nicodemus was himself a “master [didaskalos] of Israel” (ch. 3:10), yet was willing to accept Jesus—who had no formal education and no official permission to teach—as his equal.
The only explanation of this visit is that he sensed in his own heart the fact that Jesus was more than simply a teacher. At first, however, pride kept him from revealing his inmost thought, that Jesus might be the Messiah.
But when his reaction is contrasted with that of the other leaders of the nation, the extent to which his ardent desire for truth overcame pride is surprising.
John 3:2 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.”
From God. These words are in the emphatic position in Greek. By them Nicodemus acknowledged that the miracles of Jesus constituted credentials of more than human authority.
No man. The miracles constituted evidence of divine power that could not be gainsaid. Upon later occasions Jesus directed the attention of the Jewish leaders to the significance of His miracles as attesting His divine mission.
John 5:36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
John 3:2 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.”
That You do. The personal pronoun “You” is emphatic. The miracles of Jesus differed from those of other men; they gave evidence of being genuine.
Except God be with him. The miracles attested to divine approval and recognition. Nicodemus followed the evidence through to its logical conclusion.
Let’s listen to Nicodemus as he tells about this experience:
In the presence of Christ, I Nicodemus felt a strange timidity, which I endeavoured to conceal under an air of composure and dignity. “Rabbi,” I said, “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.”
By speaking of Christ’s rare gifts as a teacher, and also of His wonderful power to perform miracles, I hoped to pave the way for his interview. My words were designed to express and to invite confidence; but they really expressed unbelief. I did not acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah, but only a teacher sent from God. {DA 168.3}
Guess how Jesus react? Instead of recognizing my approach, my salutation, Jesus looked at me, as if reading my very soul. In His infinite wisdom He saw me before Him a seeker after truth.
He knew the object of my visit, and with a desire to deepen the conviction already resting upon His my mind, He came directly to the point, saying solemnly, yet kindly, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3, margin. {DA 168.4}
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Most assuredly. Jesus disregarded the proffered compliment and directed His reply to the unspoken appeal for truth implicit in the fact that Nicodemus had sought Him out for a private interview.
Again. Gr. anōthen, which elsewhere in John means “from above” (chs. 3:31; 19:11; etc.). The word may properly be used in either sense
+ It is clear that Nicodemus understood it in the sense of “again” (v. 4), but Jesus meant “from above,” the sense in which anōthen is used later in the same chapter (v. 31). To be sure, the birth Jesus here refers to is a second birth, but it is not a repetition of the first birth, as the translation “again” might imply.
According to Jewish theology, to be born a son of Abraham was almost certainly a guarantee of admission into the kingdom of heaven (ch. 8:33).
John 8:33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
But in order to be saved, non-Jews must become sons of Abraham by adoption. It would not have startled Nicodemus to hear Jesus affirm that non-Jews must be “born again” in order to “see the kingdom of God.”
But the idea that he, a circumspect Jew, stood outside the circle of salvation was a new and disturbing thought. Two and a half years later (ch. 8:39) Jesus explicitly declared that descent from Abraham is to be reckoned by moral likeness rather than by physical relationship.
Joh 8:38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”
Joh 8:39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
Compare Paul’s teachings on the same
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
Rom 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Galations 3:9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus here refers primarily to His spiritual kingdom, the kingdom of divine grace (see on Matt. 4:17; 5:2).
I, Nicodemus had come to the Lord thinking to enter into a discussion with Him, but Jesus laid bare the foundation principles of truth. He said to me it is not theoretical knowledge need so much as spiritual regeneration.
He said to me: You need not to have your curiosity satisfied, but to have a new heart. You must receive a new life from above before you can appreciate heavenly things.
Until this change takes place, making all things new, it will result in no saving good for you to discuss with Me My authority or My mission. {DA 171.1}
Next time we will discuss the miracle of being born again in more depths.
Maybe you and I think that we have arrived spiritually and are ready to be credited as citizens of the heavenly kingdom.
How can we make certain of this great truth? Next time Jesus will explain it to us.