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| Henry Ossawa Tanner, Jesus and Nicodemus, 1898 |
John 3:16 is such a passage. All of the 4-6th grade students in my Sunday School class could quote this verse from memory. I bet none, excepting my own daughter possibly, could provide the context and tell me that it was spoken in a conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus. In fact, last time Nicodemus came up in our Sunday School, none were familiar with him at all. But, that's another post!
So, this morning, I am settling into John 2 and the story of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Here are some notable pieces of commentary, along with my observations:
He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, and a teacher. (BKC)
"Nicodemus later rebuked the Pharisees for condemning Jesus without hearing Him (Joh_7:50-51), and he helped Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus (Joh_19:39-40)." -BKC
I admire the way Nicodemus goes directly to Jesus to get to the bottom of things---albeit at night, which shows a sense of caution, discretion, and perhaps fear--but he does go.
Nicodemus begins his visit with a statement:
"...we all know that God has sent you to teach us."
Jesus' enigmatic reply elicits questions:
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
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?"
Is Jesus refuting Nicodemus' statement that they all know that God has sent him to teach them?
Joh 3:9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"
What does Jesus mean by his response in John 3:11?
"but you do not receive our testimony"
And afterwards by his quite long sermon-like reply? This is where John 3:16 happens...in the midst of a complex explanation to Nicodemus about being born again, about believing or being already condemned, about the difference between light and darkness, the difference between flesh and spirit. The explanation presents riddle upon riddle.
The Word does not share Nicodemus' reception or any further questions.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary suggests that Jesus was pointing Nicodemus to reexamine truths that he should know:
"The titles “Rabbi” and “Teacher” are polite and flattering on one hand, but they showed Nicodemus’ inadequate comprehension of who Jesus is. The words “from God” are in an emphatic position in the Greek. The signs had pointed out Jesus as God’s Man (God was with Him), and Nicodemus wanted to talk to Him as one Rabbi to another.
Nicodemus asked… how this spiritual transformation takes place. Jesus answered that Nicodemus, as the teacher of Israel (the Gr. has the article “the”), ought to know. The Old Testament prophets spoke of the new Age with its working of the Spirit (Isa_32:15; Eze_36:25-27; Joe_2:28-29). The nation’s outstanding teacher ought to understand how God by His sovereign grace can give someone a new heart (1Sa_10:6; Jer_31:33)."Before this, I'd always thought of Nicodemus as the "good Pharisee," and he was in many ways. But, this is also a helpful reminder that Nicodemus was imperfect, just as we are, trying to figure it all out in real time, working through the lens of our own weaknesses and preconceptions.
But Nicodemus was ignorant of the realm of which Jesus spoke. He represented the nation’s unbelief and lack of knowledge. Jesus, like the prophets, spoke to the nation about divine themes but the Jews rejected His witness. “Witness” (or testimony; martyrian) is a common word in John’s Gospel (see the chart at Joh_5:33-34)." -BKC
Robertson's Word Pictures notes that Nicodemus addressed Jesus with a degree of respect inherent in his title of address:
"Rabbi (Rabbei). Technically Jesus was not an acknowledged Rabbi of the schools, but Nicodemus does recognize him as such and calls him “My Master” just as Andrew and John did (Joh_1:38). It was a long step for Nicodemus as a Pharisee to take, for the Pharisees had closely scrutinized the credentials of the Baptist in Joh_1:19-24 (Milligan and Moulton’s Comm.)."
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