A Ruler Called Nicodemus

Easter 2018 has just concluded, where the Christian world remembered the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. One of the two men who arranged the burial of Jesus was a man called Nicodemus; a ruler of the Jews.We are introduced to Nicodemus in the Gospel of John.

John 3:1-2:
"(1) There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
(2) 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."

So far, we know that Nicodemus is from the sect known as the Pharisees and that he is a ruler of the Jewish people. The Pharisees were a very strict group of Jews who held to rigid rules and ordinances concerning the Jewish law. The law was mainly religious but also had strong secular overtones. The Jewish law permeated every strata of their society. It was the controlling influence over every Jewish person and was the basis for their way of life.

Nicodemus as a ruler of the Jews would have been a member of the Sanhedrin; who were a group of priests, elders and scribes who administered the law and religious observances. They were the governing body for Israel.

We can also note from verse 2 that Nicodemus had an open and inquiring mind. However as a ruler of the Jews he was very cautious in his approach to Jesus. He did not want to be seen by members of the Sanhedrin as making contact with Jesus of Nazareth. Thus, he made contact at night time. We know from the four Gospels, that the chief rulers of the Jews hated Jesus of Nazareth for the many miracles that He did and for the way He taught the people with power and authority.

Nicodemus obviously pondered over these matters and came to the conclusion that God was with Jesus of Nazareth. "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."  Nicodemus had realised that Jesus was a Teacher sent from God and Jesus' words were backed up by His deeds.

Let's continue on in John 3:3-4:
(3) Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
(4) Nicodemus said to 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?"

Jesus' reply is unusual, He tells Nicodemus that unless a person is born again that person cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus is obviously startled by this statement. He knew it was a physical impossibility to be born physically a second time. Nicodemus being a ruler in Israel would have been an older man. "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Nicodemus was probably perplexed by Jesus' talk of being born again.

John 3:5-8:
"(5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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) Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
(8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Nicodemus seems to be even more perplexed when he is told that a person needs to be born of water and by the Spirit of God to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus tells him that there is a physical birth and there is a spiritual birth. Then to cap it off Jesus tells Nicodemus that Nicodemus needs to be born again. The illustration Jesus uses is that of the wind. The wind comes and goes as it pleases. We can't see it but we can hear it and feel its effects.

We know when a woman is pregnant and ready to give birth! However, we cannot physically see a new spiritual birth. We can and do see the effect of being born again in the life of someone who is born again. Water is often used in the Holy Scriptures as a symbol of the word of God. So I believe that the new spiritual birth is brought about by the word of God applied in living power by the Holy Spirit of God.

John 3:9-10:
"(9) Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"
(10) Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?"

Nicodemus ponders the revelation and asks "How can these things be?" Jesus' reply shows that he expected Nicodemus to know the answers. He questions Nicodemus' high ranking as a teacher and ruler in Israel. "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?" Please note Jesus does not say "a teacher' but "the teacher". Nicodemus had an exalted position and Jesus expected him to know how new birth was possible.

In verses 11-13 Jesus tells Nicodemus that if he cannot understand things relating to Earth, how could Nicodemus understand things relating to Heaven? "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (Verse 12).

Now we come to a very instructive lesson for Nicodemus and for you and me.

John 3:14-15:
"(14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
(15) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus refers to events that took place back in Moses' time. The children of Israel on their wilderness journeys became very discouraged and complained bitterly to Moses.

Numbers 21:5-6:
"(5) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."
(6) So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died."

The state of their hearts was revealed. The real complaint was against God! They began to loathe the Manna that God provided for them six days per week. Each morning they needed to go out early and collect the manna which was on the dew on the ground. They could take as much or as little as they liked. They collected a double portion on the sixth day to tide them over on the seventh day.

God's response to their complaining is immediate! "So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died." They complained that God had brought them out of Egypt so that they would die in the wilderness. Yet He had provided food and water on all their journeys. Now many of them were dying because of their rebellion against God.

The people then come and confess their sins to Moses and ask Moses to pray to God to have the fiery serpents taken away. God then instructs Moses to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole.

Numbers 21:8-9:
"(8) Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.'
(9) So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived."

It was a look of faith! If you believed that by looking up at the bronze serpent on that pole that you would be healed and live - that's what you did! This was no time to question the method of salvation. If you wanted to live instead of dying a horrible death you looked up at the serpent on the pole. There was no if, but or maybe involved; to live you looked in faith at God's provision of salvation.

Next blog post we will continue to examine 'A Ruler Called Nicodemus.'

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com
Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

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