Verse 1
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Nicodemus
Man of the Pharisees
Member of the Sanhedrin
Ruler of the Jews
A leader From the Jewish Counsel
In verse 10, Jesus calls him a “Master in Israel”
There is something different about Nicodemus from the other members of the Sanhedrin: He displays a Hunger of the and for the Spirit.
Note here, hunger is good but you must go farther, as we will see with the lesson.
He is different as in Mark 3:22 some of his fellow Pharisees claimed Jesus cast out demons by devils.
Some of the same did not even recognize John the Baptist as they refused to be baptized of Him. (Luke 7:30)
Keepers of the “Law” did not keep the Law. There was a need for Jesus and His redemption, and God is fixing to place this all into the way of man that will receive the truth.
Nicodemus recognizes the divine origin of Jesus’s miracles. Unlike his fellow Pharisees
Verse 2
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Came to Jesus by night.
I have been around a few years and have heard many explanations of why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. I do not think it would add anything to our truth of Scripture to add something to this as this scripture deals with Redemption and The Kingdom to come, so no additions here. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night.
We know……
Nicodemus shows much respect to Jesus here. It is deeper than personality uplifting as is done today.
While Nicodemus in the use of we, means himself with others, If it is his Pharisee associates, has a special respect.
Jesus is recognized as a teacher
Come from God-a guide of Spiritual
A miracle worker- No man can do what you do except He is empowered by God the Father.
There is a recognition of a man sent from God. Enough to cause Nicodemus to seek after Him.
Nicodemus recognizes a relationship to God the Father.
It was recognized enough to cause Nicodemus to seek out the Messiah.
He is come from God
Here is a prime example of being “Drawn” to God
John 6:44 KJV
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
No cliches, no coming of Himself as a popular thing to do.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus begins to work with Nicodemus. His coming to Jesus is what Jesus does. Jesus does not send anyone away with a true heart to seek Him.
Now Jesus begins to try to open the understanding of Nicodemus
He tells Nicodemus of the fact, Born again or Born from above. A new term to Nicodemus
The Lord now begins to talk of these Spiritual things to a fleshly person.
Now Nicodemus is being taken past the natural or fleshly things, although it takes a conversation with Jesus to get Nicodemus to understand if possible to Nicodemus
As I said earlier, this is about redemption.
Look at what Jesus is saying to this “ruler of Israel”
Jesus is telling this religious man that Nicodemus is dead spiritually.
Yes this leader of the law-He is dead and far from God
How many in the church are exactly the same.
Going along in their religious duties, but not close enough for Jesus to show them their Spiritual lack
They see no lack.
Jesus told him, “you can not see”
You are spiritually blind. You can not see what I am all about, The Kingdom to come. Redemption
A Time in Nicodemus you should be teaching the truth instead of your religion.
Hebrews 5: 11-14 kjv
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The religious system around Nicodemus, was unable to minister to man and let him know of His relationship to God whether good or bad.
Could not even cause Nicodemus to question his Relationship with God
Jesus is telling him that there has to be a change in Nicodemus in order to be righteous with God and in Good standing with the Father.
What you have got right now will not work…..will not get you into the Kingdom.
Verse 4
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Again here, Nicodemus is totally not understanding. He still sees this as a physical thing. His mind is locked into the natural or fleshly man.
He is relating what Jesus is saying to physical……..not allowing the Spirit to minister to him. He only understands natural.
I have to ask us to consider……..how long did the Spirit deal with Nicodemus, and does the Spirit have a limit of how long He will deal with men who do not see.
Verse 5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
It appears here, that Nicodemus does not have a problem with the term “born of Water”. The problem is Being “born again of the Spirit.” Nicodemus questions not the water.
Let us understand how men argue and fuss and split hairs over doctrines…….you can call it born of Water, or born of the Spirit.
The bottom line Jesus is teaching is we must come to the place we are pleasing to and acceptable to God. Nothing more and nothing less.
Nicodemus religious order did not get him there, so ask ourselves does our religious order get us there?
A note on water.
Water in scriptures when used as with Jesus teaching here, speaks of cleansing, washing, immersing.
Lev chapters 8-10 describes the command that the Priest had to be washed to be ready and fit for their priestly duties, redemption if you will
If you take time to go to John 4 and study the teaching of Jesus concerning the “Woman at Jacob’s well”.
“Everyone who drinks of this well water will thirst again, But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst again; the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Jesus gives us spiritual water that issues eternal life.
So whatever water means here to you, it is exactly the same water in John 3 and John 4
It is life giving water. Try to argue that one.
Just a note, there had to be a consecration of the priests, thus the washing
They had to regularly wash, thus the container of water in the temple as He has to wash upon entering every time.
Our Lord comes to John the baptized to be “washed” in order to fulfill His office of priest. Again there was no sin to wash away.
If you are confused of this requirement, as the Lord to show you the truths.
Ex 28:1 declares God appoints priest.
The priest were to be of Aaron. But God chose who at times to fill His desires.
Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, but was appointed priest.
Why did He have to go to John to be baptized?
It certainly was not for a cleansing from sin.
John the Baptizer was the forerunner ordained by God
It was fulfilling of the prophesies.
It becomes way too involved to discuss water and baptizing, in a Nicodemus study. Ask of God to show you these truths.
Jesus tells us two things here about the kingdom
The Kingdom is spiritually discerned, and you can be blind to it unless you are born from above.
The Kingdom of God is spiritually entered. You can not enter the Kingdom unless you are changed
Spiritually
Verse 6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Herein Lies the problem. Flesh
Dress it up, or do what you will to flesh. Flesh can only bring about flesh. Nothing of the Spirit.
Flesh tries to reform man, make him religious, but it is an unredeemed religion.
Jesus teaches here, there are “tares”, flesh born professors, that in the church, flesh has born ones, flesh.
They are as real as the “born again” ones.
As I said before and again. Redemption is what the Lord is saying to Nicodemus
The water has to do with the Spirit in my seeing. It is a filling of the Holy Spirit of God…….It is the Spirit of God that can change a man into a person of God. Are we Spirit born?
Jesus is telling Nicodemus point blank, The Spirit of God is not within you, and you must be of the Spirit of God. The Spirit has to be in you.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Not the cliches “accept Jesus into your life”, nor the “Sinners Prayer”
It is thought by flesh, That that prayer is an entry door to the kingdom, but they will find their hearts are still unprepared, darkened hearts unconverted by the “Water” and the “Blood”
No regeneration at all.
People laugh at the term, as Nicodemus they understand it not…..but Jesus said, “You must be born again.”
Verse 8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
You may not understand “born of the Spirit”
This is not a work you do, but a work the Holy Spirit of God does in us. That is the only way.
You do not control the Spirit in any way, the Spirit controls you.
You do choose to allow Him to work in you, but you do not control the work He does in you.
Verse9
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Religion still keeps Nicodemus away. He still has no understanding.
No greater teacher, not greater one to tell Nicodemus of the Spiritual.
My question at this time, does he ever get it? I know that will bring argument…..but we are not told of his Salvation.
Verse10
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
The greatest teacher and preacher of all time, is astounded at Nicodemus thinking.
What you have been taught is very dangerous to our walk with God.
“A master of Israel” but did not get it.
Verse11
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Look at how Jesus leaves us with this teaching. “Ye receive not”.
Did Nicodemus believe?
How many in the church system to day are at that same place?
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