There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “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.” John 3:1-2 NKJ.
When we turn to Chapter 3 of John’s Gospel, we may want to rush past the first two verses. Why did Jesus reveal the mystery of God’s will? Why tell this Pharisee and not the disciples?
Let’s not rush through here and find out what’s going on.
We might like to think that Nicodemus and Jesus were sitting together alone, possibly by a fireplace. But undoubtedly, the disciples and other followers were listening in.
They were thinking, “What is Jesus going to tell this ruler of the Jews? What does this Pharisee want with Jesus? Why did Nicodemus come tonight?
Nicodemus?
The teachers and rulers of the Jews were the Pharisees. If you wanted to know the word, the laws, and the deep things of God, then here was your man.
But Nicodemus, whose name means “Innocent of Blood,” was no ordinary Pharisee. He held a position of power in the Sanhedrin, the highest ruling body of that time. The occupying authority (Rome) granted them limited jurisdiction over certain religious, civil, and criminal matters.
Sanhedrin?
The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme Jewish court of ancient Israel, which had 71 members. This number included the High Priest and the 70 other elders and rabbis who comprised the council. The odd number would have ensured a moral decision, with a deciding “vote” in case of a split. The high priest was always president of the council.
The tradition of the seventy-one members comes from a biblical command in Numbers 11:16. Here is where God instructed Moses to gather seventy elders, as people believe.
The Jews highly regarded the Sanhedrin, and its authority and decisions often guided them. The Romans left most of the business of governing the Jews to the Sanhedrin. With its own police force, the Sanhedrin can arrest independently.
The Sanhedrin served as the supreme court of the Jews. It was not an appellate court but handled special matters of importance that the lower courts can not resolve.
Here, in the cover of night, was one lone member of the Sanhedrin: Nicodemus. Was he there to represent the council or on his own?
Jesus sees His heart.
All this notwithstanding, Jesus knew his heart was seeking the truth. Jesus addressed him as “the teacher of Israel.”
Nicodemus was a wealthy, educated, and powerful man. He was also an eyewitness to the signs from God. The council could have discussed and pondered these signs, or maybe not. Yet, here was one out of 70 members of the council looking for the truth.
Nicodemus appears again and again.
Nicodemus appears again in the Gospel of John in two places:
- John 7:51. Nicodemus showed a cautious and guarded sympathy for Jesus when Jesus went before the Sanhedrin. He asked, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
- John 19:39. Nicodemus purchased 100 pounds of spices to be placed in the folds of the burial cloth of Jesus.
Christian tradition states that Peter and John baptized Nicodemus. He also suffered persecution from hostile Jews before losing his place in the Sanhedrin. His Christian faith caused them to exile him from Jerusalem.
Is it any wonder that we see Nicodemus had become a born-again believer after this meeting with Jesus?
Let’s Return to the Fireside.
Here was Nicodemus, a strict and politically minded ruler of the Jews. His interest in Jesus was genuine. His approach to Jesus is cautious and yet open-minded enough to receive a new revelation from God. He needed to be certain that God had sent Jesus.
“Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-point, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in it.” John 3:2 The Message.
Nicodemus’s comment to God gives us no sign of his heart or how Jesus would respond. Jesus shared with him the truth—the key to the “with-God” life: you must be born again.
In Conclusion
I know – I know you want to move on to verse 3. But be patient with me, and please be patient with me and wait hold off on that until next week.
If you are a believer, look back to the day you looked for Jesus. Why did you come? What prompted you to choose to follow Him? If you’re born again, what difference has it made in your life?
If you’re not a believer yet, but a seeker like Nicodemus, then take a few minutes to ask yourself why. If you were born again today, what difference would it make? Are you ready to be counted among God’s chosen people? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me so I can share in your joy.
I would be glad to talk about the difference Jesus makes with you. The most important decision you can make on earth is to choose God’s will for you. His heart is for our salvation.
Do you know you must be born again?
… Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God…Heb 11:16b NKJV.
Blessed is the man You choose. and cause to approach you…Ps 64:4b NKJV
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