An Intimate Moment with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)

This story of Jesus and Nicodemus always gives me hope. In my mind it is easier for a very poor person to see the hope which Christ offers. However, so often people in power, who are educated, do not see a need. Yet, with Christ even a most learned religious leader can come to understand the need for the Savior.

I do think Nicodemus came under the pretense of representing 'the group' because he uses the word 'we' when he first approaches Jesus. I quote, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher..." But, his pretense quickly slips away as Christ draws him near. I find it intriguing that Nicodemus has impressive credentials, is a Jew, and a member of the powerful Jewish Council and yet he has a Greek name.

Nicodemus was open in seeing Jesus. He came himself, even though he came under cover of darkness. But I see him desiring to look upon Jesus in person, to examine Him to see if He indeed was true. Nicodemus was definitely searching. He understood that Jesus had some answers to give. He truly desired to be taught by Christ. You know, no matter how intelligent and well educated we are, we all must come to Christ with an open mind and heart.

I wonder as he sat there and listened to what Christ shared with him about how he needed to be born again, did that shake up his world? Being a Pharisee, Nicodemus understood about the kingdom of God. What he had not grasped was that it was personal. To be a part of this kingdom Nicodemus would have to be born again. I love how Gire puts it, "He [Christ] upended the wooden thinking of the most prominent teacher in all Israel."

Christ's illustration of the wind representing the Holy Spirit in verse 8 is very telling. We can't see the wind, only hear it. No one controls the wind but God. No one controls the Holy Spirit. He works in ways far beyond our comprehension. We did not control our physical birth. In the same way we cannot control our spiritual birth. It is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit. ("The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God" Romans 8:16. And, 1 Corinthians 2: 10-12, "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.")

Nicodemus, who knew the Old Testament very well, didn't understand what it said about the Messiah. It goes to show that head knowledge is not salvation. It's when it moves from the head to a person's heart that salvation takes place. We look to Christ for our salvation, believing He alone will save us.

Nicodemus came in darkness but he left shining in the light! There isn't much known about Nicodemus but we do know he left Christ as a changed man. I believe the next time we see Nicodemus is in the Jewish Council where they are discussing ways to do away with Jesus. He spoke up about justice. Granted it was shot down but he had revealed his change. Finally, it is Nicodemus who joined Joseph of Arimathea in asking for Christ's body in order to bury Him. Nicodemus certainly came under cover but in the end, he stood "in the full light of day!"