The story of Nicodemus and Jesus in John 3:1-21 is actually a widely mis-taught passage in that most people see this as a conversion story for Nicodemus. Yet there is nothing in this passage that clearly lets us know that this is when Nicodemus became a Christian even though we know, by means of John 19:39, that he may have become a follower of Christ in his lifetime. On the contrary, it seems that this passage was just the beginning of Nicodemus' journey of understanding what it means to find life in Jesus.
If we study this passage, we actually see a very convicting explanation of what it means to be truly born again. Nicodemus, though curious, was more inquisitive than accepting in his conversation with Jesus.
Look at all of what Nicodemus says:
- "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
- "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?"
- "How can these things be?"
Now look at what Jesus says about Nicodemus at this time:
- "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
- "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?"
- "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony."
- "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?"
Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus that he is not born again in relation to the Kingdom. Jesus uses the terms born again and the Kingdom to help illustrate that when one is reborn, he is spiritually regenerated to live in community of the Kingdom of God.
What is the Kingdom?
Here is a good working definition of the Kingdom thanks in part to Vance Pitman (pastor of Hope Baptist in Las Vegas, Nevada)
The Kingdom is.... the past, present and future activity of God in the world bringing people into right relationship with Him.
So, in essence, Jesus is telling Nicodemus why he is not born again (at this time):
1) He doesn't see the Kingdom of God
2) He doesn't enter and participate in the Kingdom of God
3) He doesn't understand the Kingdom of God
4) He doesn't live out the Kingdom of God
Also I find it interesting that Nicodemus came to Jesus in a not-so-bold manner at night. In fact, in John 19:39, that is how Nicodemus is referred to - the one who came to Jesus by night. You see Nicodemus was a very important ruler of the Jews who was curious about Jesus, but didn't want others to really know that he was interested so he came to Jesus at night instead of during the day. He waited until after he was done with a long day of Pharisaical work to sneak out to see Jesus when none of his Pharisee buds would catch him. The issue here is that Jesus calls him out on it and finishes the conversation with a very convicting analogy of light and darkness. He is letting Nicodemus know that if you are born again, people are going to know because it will be clearly seen by others. He explains that if you truly are a believer of Him then you will come to the light and come to the surface and your works will reflect His life.
Let this penetrate into your heart and read carefully cause this can be very convicting and life-changing.
John 3:19-21
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."
This is not a story of conversion, this a story of recognizing how lost Nicodemus truly was. Before one is born again, they must understand how lost they are.
The last recorded saying of Nicodemus in this passage was this. "How can these things be?"
And that is the underlying question that lost people are asking the church.
What is our answer?
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