Table of Contents
Nicodemus: The Man Who Came To Jesus By Night
He came to Jesus under the cover of night. This man of Jerusalem known by name and sight to hundreds, known as an eminent rabbi/instructor of the law, the Mosaic Law that he endorsed and prescribed to, this man known for his teaching ability and who could command the pulpit is any synagogue in Israel, who was known as one of the three richest men in Jerusalem, this man whose name alone opened doors to him that were closed to others, this man came to Jesus by night. Nicodemus was his name.
1. Years after this event
Years after this event, an event that for Nicodemus was life-changing, and as John reflected back on it said, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews” (1). John’s simple opening statement of this event suggests an awakened curiosity. His curiosity was no surprise to the Lord, of course, as He is omniscient, but it probably was a surprise to this ruler of the Jews. It is possible to envision him scratching his head and muttering to himself, “I can’t believe that I am coming to question this man, but I am curious of him.” And here he was. After a few pleasantries, Nicodemus said, “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” (2).
Why did he come by night? Was he fearful that his colleagues would see him? Was he concerned that if he was found out by friends, they would report him to others? Was he ashamed to admit to himself that he sensed a deficiency in himself from one of the discourses that this Galilean Rabbi had taught? He likely came to Jesus by night because both men had been busy in their ministries, and this was the best hour to sit and “pick his mind.” Whatever the reasons were, Nicodemus was curious about this man and desired an audience with Jesus.
2. The alarmed conscience of Nicodemus
The alarmed conscience of Nicodemus. Coming to Jesus, he probably had formed a list of questions in his mind that he wished to discuss. When will the kingdom of God come? How will it come? How will we know the Messiah when He comes? Undoubtedly, most of his questions would be related to the kingdom age. But the Lord Jesus, knowing his thoughts and the concerns of his heart, addressed them immediately and startled him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (3).
“How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” was Nicodemus’ response (4). The doctrine of the new birth wasn’t a new doctrine introduced by Jesus at this time. The principle and truth is rooted and encased in Old Testament teachings which Nicodemus ought to have been familiar with. The term “new birth” is not used in the Old Testament, but the seed truth is there. Perhaps the most familiar text that Nicodemus ought to have known was declared by the prophet Ezekiel who said to Israel, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (Eze. 36:26-27). Nicodemus should have known these things. He was a master in Israel. He did not remember that the godly Habakkuk had declared, “But the just shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4). Another devout Pharisee who became an even more devout Christian was the man we know as the Apostle Paul. And he picked up this Old Testament truth and theme and declared three more times, “the just shall live by faith” (Ro. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38).
3. Faith is akin to believe or to believe
Faith is akin to believe or to believe. Believe or believeth comes from the same Greek word as faith, which is pistis. It literally means “firm persuasion,” a conviction based upon hearing. And God through the Apostle Paul said, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Ro. 10:17). This wasn’t a new doctrine that Jesus declared to Nicodemus. This was long established Old Testament truth being explained for the first time in New Testament language to the convicted Nicodemus who thought he was a genuine believer but was not. He kept the Mosaic law, and the tradition of the elders as best as could, but still came up short. The law, however, was never given to redeem or save a soul. It was, in itself, a master, a teacher to bring us to Christ and to demonstrate to us that we are unable to attain to the righteousness of God because of our inability to fully obey the law. Paul, as devout a Pharisee as was Nicodemus said, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:25-25). As good a man as Nicodemus was, he came up short because he did not believe the report given to Israel through the prophets.
The last words of the Lord Jesus to Nicodemus were alarming to him: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (Jn. 3:16-21). With that the ruler of the Jews understood that Jesus declared that He was the Son of God, that He was the anticipated Messiah, that everyone who rejected this revelation of truth was condemned already, but he that doeth truth is he that is receives and believes and obeys the truth as Jesus was revealing.
4. What happened after this manifestation
What happened after this manifestation of truth? John did not record how Nicodemus responded to Jesus that night. But we know what happened to this man from the three glimpses John leaves in his gospel. We see his arresting conversion, or in other words, his striking spiritual conversion. There is much that I want to say and cannot because of space in this study. Nicodemus became a believer. Something internal, spiritual, and eternal took place that changed his life and way of thinking. The second mentioning of him is when he publicly attempted to defend Jesus from the insidious attacks of the Pharisees only to be strongly rebuked by his religious peers (Jn. 7:50). But the Spirit of God, in a most touching scene, reveals that this rich, religious, and now disciple of Christ brought about a hundred pounds mixture of myrrh and aloes for the burial of Jesus.
Nicodemus was now out of the closet. No longer was he a secret disciple if he had indeed been secretive about his new faith in Christ. Real belief, real faith, real conviction will be brought to light. Light cannot be hidden. Light exposes darkness and darkness cannot comprehend it (Jn. 1:5). And, if you are a true disciple, the light of your faith will be exposed also!
John 3:1-21. King James Version
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
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.
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.
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?
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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
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.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 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?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
