Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus
The passage identifies Nicodemus as “Israel’s teacher”, indicating that he was no ordinary rabbi but was a member of the Sanhedrin and held a significant place in the theological hierarchy of the time. The fact that Nicodemus’ conversation with Jesus took place at night need not imply secrecy, as suggested by some but it could mean that Nicodemus chose a time when he could speak with Jesus in private. Nicodemus’ acknowledgement that Jesus is a teacher who has come from God for no one could perform miraculous signs if he were not from God indicates that the religious elite of the day from the beginning knew that Christ spoke with authority granted Him by God; it also seems to suggest an honest desire on Nicodemus’ part to hear from Jesus what was His message from God. Nothing seems to suggest hostility from Nicodemus; in fact, Nicodemus was unlike most of his fellows who knew that the miracles performed by Jesus were signs which authenticate Him as God’s messenger and yet closed their hearts and minds against Jesus.
When Jesus told Nicodemus that “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”, he exclaimed in amazement that how this could be possible. Jesus uses the familiar terminology introduced by John the Baptist: water, symbolising repentance and turning from the old; the Spirit, symbolising that supernatural gift to be given by the One John is sent to announce. Flesh gives birth to flesh, only God’s Spirit can provide that spiritual rebirth necessary for a person to enter the kingdom of God, a kingdom whose essence is spiritual rather than biological and material. To enter God’s kingdom requires something impossible by human standards: rebirth. Jesus was referring to the work of the Holy Spirit who breathes life into our sinful and dead spiritual nature. When we are born again, we become new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), our sins are forgiven (Acts 10:43) and we are reconciled to God – we have peace with Him and are granted an eternal intimate relationship with Him (Rom. 5:1-2; Eph. 2:13-18).
Nicodemus still struggles to understand, and Jesus rebukes him mildly: surely Israel’s instructor in spiritual things must understand this utterly basic principle. In fact, the principle of essential inner renewal is taught in the Old Testament (Jer. 31:33-34; Ezek. 36:26). Jesus then pointed to the incident in Numbers 21:4-9: the Israelites were disobedient, unthankful and hostile to God’s messenger. God condemned their acts and decreed punishment, sending a plague of serpents. The bite was deadly and there was no hope of recovery. Yet in mercy God commanded Moses to ‘lift up’ on a pole a bronze serpent, an emblem of their judgement. And then the people were told that if they would only look, they would be healed. The parallels are clear. God’s people, and all mankind, were disobedient, unthankful and hostile to the Lord, condemned by Him to death. Yet in mercy God sent His Son, commanded that He be lifted up (on the cross), an emblem of the judgement which sin requires. And we are told that if we but look to Him in faith we will be forgiven and healed.
The Saviour was lifted up, and in the decisive act light burst on mankind’s dark world. All who respond to the light with faith have passed from death to life. John then penned the famous verse: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). To ‘believe’ in Jesus involves more than just agreeing that Jesus’ words are true. It means trusting in Jesus alone for your salvation; it is deciding to place your life and future in the hands of Jesus. It is trusting Him to be your Lord and His Word to be your command.
John the Baptist exalts Jesus
John was told that Jesus was baptising and all were going to Him. John expresses approval of what is taking place, because his ministry is limited to what is given to him from heaven. His role was not to be Christ, but to be sent before Him. John the Baptist understood that his calling to point people to Jesus never changed Before Jesus became publicly known, John was to be the focus of attention as he preached, baptised and called the nation to repentance. All of John’s work was preparatory – it paved the way for Jesus. John compares his task to being the friend of the bridegroom who is in charge of the details of a wedding. He gladly gives way to the groom when He appears (take note of the image of the people of God as a bride). Hence John is thrilled to see the arrival of the promised One and he rejoices that the ministry of the Messiah must increase while his own ministry must decrease. Jesus has come from heaven, while John the Baptist is a prophet from the earth. The One from heaven is “above all”.