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.”.
Christianity is not about good manners, nor becoming a better person. It’s a comprehensive renewal.
Thoughts
- Spiritual Hunger for More (1-2): Nicodemus is desperate to meet with this teacher come from God—and he seems to represent some group of religious elites. But he is also afraid to be “outed,” so he visits after dark. Rom 3:23,24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus*. Kings, tycoons, pastors and teachers, moms and dads, criminals and the faceless homeless—we all desperately need the grace of God. Jesus’ light draws us out from our darkness and self-reliance and into heart renovation.
- Radical Restart (3-8): Jesus tells Nicodemus (almost literally in the Greek) that he needs a “reboot.” Nicodemus ought to recognize Ezk 17:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.* Nicodemus responds, not with a heart-centered question, but with a head-centered one about physical birth. We men would often rather talk about theology—getting our facts straight—than getting our hearts straight. Jesus smashes that line of inquiry, comparing the Spirit to the invisible wind, which is only visible in its awesome effects.
- Seeing, but Not Understanding (9-12): How can this be? We can’t hear Nicodemus’s tone, but one thing is certain: he is seeking understanding. You are Israel's teacher and do you not understand these things? Ouch. We know God from Creation (Rom 1:20); from Revelation (2 Pet 1:20-21); and from Relation (Joh 17:3). (Deut 4:29) But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul*. Though Nicodemus is lost, he is seeking after God, and he most certainly will be found.
- Lifted up for Us (13-15): so the Son of Man must be lifted up. Jesus points Nicodemus to (Num 21:8) Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. This was a pointer forward. (Gal 3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” Christ offers us the fullest, truest life—a new way to be human.
Reflections
- Where do you need to experience God? Where are you desperate for Christ?
