Original publication: October 31, 2023
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 NLT
The story of Nicodemus’ nighttime meeting with Jesus is always portrayed as if Nicodemus didn’t want to be caught associating with Jesus by the other members of the Sanhedrin. While that may, in fact, be why, we just don’t know that from Scripture.
There is a road inside of you1
Inside of me there is one too
No stumbling pilgrim in the dark
The road to Zion’s in your heart
The road to Zion’s in your heart
What we are sure of is that Nicodemus wanted to speak to Jesus, either personally or officially for the Pharisees, to verify just who He was. Proof, questions answered, and maybe in the security of the darkness.
Nicodemus didn’t really know that he was talking to the Lord of Light. Jesus is the Light that exposes sin so that we can be saved. But lost people are blind, and unless drawn by the Spirit, they can’t see Jesus as the Savior of the world.
But even though lost people can’t see their own need for a personal relationship with God, scripture tells us that God has put eternity in our hearts. Scripture also tells us that man is without excuse because creation testifies to the truth of God’s existence. Somewhere in the human heart, even lost people know. That included Nicodemus.
Sometimes a shadow dark and cold2
Lays like a mist across the road
But be encouraged by the sight
Where there’s a shadow, there’s a light
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. John 1:4-5 (NLT)
One thing we do know from the passage in John chapter 3 is that Nicodemus didn’t believe Jesus was Messiah, the Christ, is because he exposes his own heart. He tells Jesus,
After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” John 3:2 (NLT)
If Nicodemus had truly believed, he would have added his faith statement. God is in Jesus, not just with Him. He also would have believed, even without the display of miraculous events. Nicodemus’s very questions posed to Jesus reveal the state of his empty soul.
Jesus was the promised Savior, but Nicodemus didn’t recognize Him. Instead, Nicodemus viewed Jesus as just a good man or possibly another prophet sent by God.
Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus seems mysterious and odd….to the unbelieving heart. You may wonder why Jesus just didn’t give Nicodemus an “A, B, C” kind of answer.
Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? John 3:10 (NLT)
Would concise, practical, even intellectual persuasion have convinced the well cloaked heart of the Pharisee? Never!
And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.
John 3:19-20 (NLT)
If Jesus had given a human kind of answer to Nicodemus that would make salvation a human pursuit. But remember, true faith in Christ Jesus happens because it is given by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 2:4 & Galatians 4:6)
Redemption can never be perceived of by human intellect or endeavor. That’s why anyone who is truly saved can’t claim credit for their good works and believe they will be saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9 WEB)
So, do we know how the story ended for Nicodemus? Not really. The scripture does point out that he reminded the Pharisees of the Hebrew law, which they were breaking, when they were plotting against Jesus. (John 7:50-51)
We also know that Nicodemus accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. (John19:39) Each of these acts were displays of affection. Nowhere in scripture does it say that Nicodemus was redeemed, although we surely hope that he finally believed and was redeemed.
By the way, have you realized that we are in John chapter 3, and the greatest verse of all time has yet to be mentioned? You probably know it by heart, even if you don’t believe it.
John 3:16.
It’s the deep, heartfelt part of this true interaction, when our Savior must have had a lump in His throat. He was telling Nicodemus how much He loved Him. Only Jesus and Nicodemus knew for sure, in that moment-if he believed.
I hope that you will be certain of your faith in Jesus. Read John 3:16 like Jesus meant this passage for you, because He did!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (KJV)
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
There is a song by Mike Hudson, of Petra, called The Road to Zion3. The link is posted here. I hope you will listen to it. The lyrics encapsulate our study today, about finding the Way of Life.
- The Road to Zion
Mike Hudson
Ca. 1982
Chorus ↩︎ - The Road to Zion
Mike Hudson
Verse 3 ↩︎ - The Road to Zion, Album
Petra
Mike Hudson, lyrics “The Road to Zion”
Ca. 1982 ↩︎
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 