3 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, … John 3
There are at least three places, found only in John’s Gospel, where it speaks of the Night. The problem with Nicodemus was that the darkness wasn’t only outside, but it was inside as well – he didn’t understand what Jesus was saying.
He was a member of the ‘Jewish ruling council’ and a Pharisee (usually Jesus’ religious enemies) but everything was about to change because of the One he’d come to speak with. Unlike many religious Pharisees, Nicodemus acknowledged that Jesus was from God because of the miraculous signs He had done. (22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 1 Corinthians 1:22)
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (or from above).”
Jesus immediately took Nicodemus into an area, that even as a religious leader he couldn’t fathom, it was beyond him. Nicodemus was perplexed and basically told Jesus that what He was saying didn’t make sense, but Jesus persisted.
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. (That’s very important!) 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You (all) 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.”
V 6, things done in the flesh can never produce Spiritual results or fruit.
In my old Bible the word ‘born’ is repeated six times (6 is the number of man) in verses 3-8. Jesus really pressed home what He was saying to this earnest seeker. He was trying to expand Nicodemus’ understanding and THAT MAY ALSO BE THE CASE FOR SOME OF US. We come to the Lord with our own questions, groping in the dark and He’s trying to lift us up to His level. Our natural mind can’t accept the things of heaven, we have to get outside the natural and into the realm of the Spirit.
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?
Jesus did give Nicodemus a revelation of His purpose for being on earth.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Nicodemus came to the Lord in the darkness, nighttime and also within himself. Jesus answered him and explained that He would bring salvation for all people, an unthinkable change for an observant Jew. But somewhere Nicodemus had understood the Lord because he defended Him before the Pharisees and helped at His burial.
May the Lord also open our understanding to all that’s happening around us.
God bless and keep you today.