Why Was It Hard for Nicodemus to Understand Born Again
Throughout his ministry, Jesus often butted heads with the stubborn and legalistic Pharisees. His message, which stood in direct opposition to their power and principles, centered effectually a spiritual transformation of the heart, non a fastidious adherence to the law.
To experience conservancy and truly encounter the kingdom of God at work in i'south life, Jesus taught that nosotros must cast aside the old, sinful life to become new creations—transformed, renewed, and reformed by the God's grace, not personal works.
Jesus would later on say that we must be "built-in again."
This idea of existence "born once more" (one of the most powerful and prevalent themes in the Christian organized religion) really emerged from a chat with a Pharisee. In John 3, Nicodemus—a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council—came to Jesus at dark with a seeker'south center and a question regarding the deeper meaning of conservancy.
Jesus' answer would not only change his life; it would change the lives of futurity Christians and like-minded seekers forever.
Who was Nicodemus in the Bible?
Nicodemus, a name in Greek which means, "victory of the people," was a member of the Sanhedrin, a regional body of religious leaders and Jewish scholars charged with handling matters of Jewish police and religion. Equally a fellow member of this body, Nicodemus would have been a well-educated, privileged, and influential human being, responsible for knowing about any teacher or public figure who might lead the people astray.
1 nighttime, Nicodemus came to Jesus in individual to ask about things he had heard and seen. Some believe that he came equally a spy for the Sanhedrin, looking to discover the nature of Jesus' ministry or trap him in an answer that could be used against him in the courts. While this couldprovide an explanation for Nicodemus's motivations, there is not enough prove in the text to support this theory.
As a previously published Christianity.com commodity explains, the fact that he came to Jesus in private, rather than challenging him publicly, as other Pharisees had frequently washed, might reveal more about his heart and possible motivation.
Everything we know nigh Nicodemus comes from John's gospel. What nosotros read in John 3 is that Nicodemus came to Jesus, starting the conversation with a statement, not a question:
"Rabbi, we know that Yous have come from God as a teacher, for no 1 can do these signs that Y'all do unless God is with him."(John 3:ii)
Nicodemus, at the very least, was dissimilar than almost Pharisees in that he acknowledged Jesus' authority and divine wisdom from the start. He may non have been an outright believer or follower of Jesus (at the fourth dimension), but he could not argue against what he had seen and heard.
As Matthew Henry writes in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, "his (Jesus') miracles were his credentials."
Nicodemus had witnessed the miracles of Jesus and heard his teachings. Now he sought answers and came when he knew he could speak to Jesus one-on-one.
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What Did Nicodemus Ask Jesus and Why?
To Nicodemus' initial statement, Jesus responded, "truly, truly, I say to yous, unless ane is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:2).
This response clearly befuddled the inquisitive Pharisee, who quickly asked, "how can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother'due south womb and be born, tin he?"(John iii:4)
Nicodemus would inquire a very logical question to clarify a very spiritual truth.
In his listen, information technology didn't brand sense how a person could exist born a second fourth dimension or how one would return to their female parent's womb to exercise then. In purely physical terms, he was right. It isn't possible. Only the mysteries of God and the wonders of His kingdom are not always apparent or understood in purely literal or physical terms.
In fact, to the earthly listen, the wonders of God frequently seem like foolishness. Nicodemus would presently discover that being "born over again" has nothing to do with physical rebirth.
Matthew Henry writes, that "such is the nature of the kingdom of God (in which Nicodemus desired to be instructed) that the soul must be re-modelled and moulded, the natural human being must become a spiritual man, before he is capable of receiving and understanding them."
Even prior to Jesus, Scripture spoke of the depth and mysteries of the Creator:
- "Call to me and I volition reply you, and volition tell y'all great and hidden things that you have non known."(Jeremiah 33:3)
- "It is the celebrity of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out."(Proverbs 25:2)
- "Can you discover out the deep things of God? Tin can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than the heaven – what tin can you practice? Deeper than Sheol – what can you know? Its measure is longer than the globe and broader than the bounding main."(Task 11:vii-nine)
God, in His space power and divine wisdom, is ofttimes shrouded in mystery beyond the telescopic of homo understanding. This does not mean that He cannot exist known or has intentionally subconscious himself from the earth. To understand the divine nature of God, however, we must seek out divine wisdom and allow ourselves to be "transformed by the renewing of our minds." (Romans 12:2)
In his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus said that, "unless i is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and what which is born of the Spirit is spirit."(John 3:five-6)
Nicodemus' inability to understand what Jesus meant demonstrated Jesus' point perfectly.
Born of flesh, the man mind cannot grasp the mysteries of the kingdom of God or understand the fullness of God. This level of understanding tin only come from a spiritual transformation and re-forging of a listen that is fabricated new or "born again" through Christ.
This is why the Pharisees frequently struggled to empathize or accept the message and ministry of Jesus. They were too entrenched in their means and reliant on their political power and influence to accept any kind of spiritual transformation or philosophical surrender.
They were the religious elite and thrived on the public's perception of them being the ultimate intellectual authority in spiritual matters. Only earthly influence and political status are irrelevant in the kingdom of God.
"To exist born once more is to exist born of the Spirit" (Matthew Henry). This was something the Pharisees merely could non fathom.
What Does Nicodemus Demonstrate about Organized religion?
Nicodemus, however, came curious and eager to larn more near Jesus' teachings. His heart had been stirred and mind challenged, and as is true to Scripture, those who seek the Lord and answers to the mysteries of his kingdom will not exist disappointed (Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy four:29, Luke eleven:nine).
While Jesus may take gently admonished Nicodemus, a teacher of the constabulary, for his initial ignorance, asking, "are you the teacher of Israel and practise not understand these things?"(John 3:9), he all the same guided him to understanding with a reference to Onetime Attestation narrative that pointed to his eventual sacrifice.
"As Moses lifted upwards the snake in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Human be lifted up, so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life."(John three:14-15)
The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus clearly planted the seed for Nicodemus' own spiritual transformation.
Some have noted that Nicodemus came to Jesus discretely and by nighttime. It is possible that he didn't want others to know of this meeting, least of all the Pharisees, and that he may take tried to go along his emerging organized religion hidden from the globe out of fright of public scrutiny. That would before long change.
Nicodemus later would publicly defend Jesus when the Pharisees questioned whether or not to seize Jesus (John 7:51). And fifty-fifty after Jesus' expiry, Nicodemus was seen, along with Joseph of Arimathea, bringing myrrh and spices to the tomb of Jesus later he had been crucified (John 19:39).
As Matthew Henry writes, "though now he came by nighttime, afterward he owned Christ publicly."
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Why Does the Bible Accost Being Born Again?
Jesus spoke of being "born again" to explain what must happen in the eye, mind, and soul of the laic who is transformed by the grace and forgiveness of God. Birth is the showtime of all life, and to exist built-in of the Spirit, 1 must start at the pes of the cross.
John the Baptist heralded Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John ane:29), and as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new beast; the old things passed away; behold, new things take come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Our erstwhile, sinful life died with Christ. New life is born of His resurrection. As Matthew Henry writes, to exist born again, "nosotros must take a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims."
Reborn in Christ, everything must adapt to His image and volition. In Him, nosotros are given fresh eyes, fresh motivations, a fresh heart, and a fresh showtime.
Nicodemus discovered something near the mysteries of God and pregnant of conservancy in his conversation with Jesus. Not long after Jesus talked of being born once more, he delivered one of the most famous passages of Scripture, one which encapsulated the entirety of the Gospel.
"For God so loved the earth, that He gave His simply Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, just have eternal life."(John three:16)
The spiritual rebirth and new life offered through the grace of Jesus Christ is more just a quick ready to an earthly sickness. It is a spiritual cure that allows us to experience and savor a spiritual eternity with Christ. The Pharisees had sadly fallen into the trap of legalism, and in doing so, missed the heart of God in Christ.
Thankfully, Nicodemus' seeking center overcame his earthly grooming and the narrow-mindedness of his spiritual colleagues.
Equally it says in Jeremiah, "y ou volition seek me and detect me when you seek me with all your center"(Jeremiah 29:thirteen); and Nicodemus did indeed find Him. It seems that the best way to understand what information technology means to be "born again" is to experience it for oneself, and that is certainly proven in the life and transformation of Nicodemus.
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Source: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-does-nicodemus-know-about-being-born-again.html
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