Nicodemus was a very important man. He was a Pharisee, belonging to a group of religious teachers in Israel, and he was a religious leader himself.
Some wonderful news came into his life. He learned there was a man called Jesus who could turn water into wine and do many other miracles. This Jesus called the Jewish temple, “My Father’s house” (John 2:1616And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (John 2:16)). Surely He must be a great teacher come from God. This was worth finding out. But Nicodemus may have felt that this Jesus might shake his own important position as a Pharisee, so he went to talk to Him at night.
Nighttime is not a good time for interviews, but Nicodemus did not wait until morning, and he was right not to wait. Do you want to know more about this man called Jesus? Don’t wait—come right now! You will find that Jesus is ready to hear you anytime, day or night.
Nicodemus called Jesus “Rabbi,” which means “master” or “teacher.” He 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” (John 3:22The 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. (John 3:2)). Now it is a good thing to know that Jesus is a great teacher, but that is not enough. Jesus was and is God. And He said to Nicodemus, “[Truly, truly,] I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)).
Nicodemus was very surprised to find that, instead of getting religious instruction, Jesus told him he needed to be born again! And now you might be wondering the same thing that Nicodemus asked: Does it mean that you have to be a baby all over again and be born like the first time?
Nicodemus didn’t turn and walk away; Jesus knew that he really wanted to know. He saw right into Nicodemus’ puzzled heart, and He knows about your puzzled heart too. Nicodemus waited for Jesus’ answer.
Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:55Jesus 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. (John 3:5)). This says that being born again is God’s work, not yours. The Word of God and the Spirit of God are there for your new birth into God’s family. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:66That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)), and that’s where you are right now, before new birth. You are alive because God made you and you were born to your earthly parents. But you have a sinful nature that we each have gotten from our earthly parents. God cannot have our sinful natures in His sinless heaven. However, “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:66That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)), and that’s where being born again comes in and makes you part of God’s family—forever! God gives you a new sinless nature that makes you ready for heaven! When God calls you home to heaven, you’ll leave your sinful nature behind and arrive in heaven with only your new sinless nature. You’ll receive a new sinless nature when you ask Jesus to wash away your sins.
“How can these things be?” (John 3:99Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? (John 3:9)), asked the puzzled Nicodemus. And as far as the record goes, that’s all he said. But Jesus said quite a bit more for him to think about. One thing He said was this: “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” (John 3:16-1716For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16‑17)).
Are you born again? Do you have a new sinless nature?
You may read this story of Nicodemus in John chapter 3.
ML-10/20/2013