February 23, 2011
JOHN 3:3 - Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
WHO WAS NICODEMUS?
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin. The Pharisees meaning the separatist were a religious party among the Jews. They prided themselves on their strict observance of the law, and on the care with which they avoided contact with things gentile. Their belief included the doctrine of immortality and resurrection of the body and the existence of angels and spirits. They upheld the authority of oral tradition as of equal value with the written law. The tendency of their teaching was to reduce religion to the observance of a multiplicity of ceremonial rules, and to encourage self-sufficiency and spiritual pride. They were a major obstacle to the reception of Christ and the gospel by the Jewish people.
The term Sanhedrin is from a Greek word that means “assembly” or “council”. The Sanhedrin was established with the 70 elders that were appointed by God through Moses to help him share the burden of the people (Numbers 11:16). The Sanhedrin had great authority and consisted of 71 members, including Pharisees and Sadducees. While they were devoted, religious men who truly sought to obey God, they strongly opposed Jesus as the Messiah and plotted to have him Killed (John 11:47-53)
Nicodemus’ being a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin made him highly devoted to being a religious leader. He knew and followed all the laws and everything necessary to make him a righteous person in the sight of man. In addition, he certainly believed he was on the right path to eternal life.
THE STORY –
Nicodemus is a well respected, religious leader, and a member of a council that didn’t take too kindly to all the attention that Jesus was getting for his miraculous acts. Being a member of such a group, one can conclude that his partners on the Sanhedrin would not appreciate him hanging out with Jesus and approving of His message. This is not explicitly stated in the scriptures but one can assume that Nicodemus visited Jesus at night to avoid having to deal with the backlash. For a man in his position to be seen taught by Jesus would probably not be beneficial to his position of authority. He was searching and based on his logic in verse 2, knew Jesus had to be from God but the person that he was made it difficult for him to receive and ultimately believe.
HOW WAS HIS LIFE TRANSFORMED AFTER ENCOUNTERING JESUS?
In the story of Nicodemus, there are no immediate signs of a conversion. Unlike the story of the Samaritan woman, and Zaccheus where their encounter with Jesus lead to an immediate conversion of heart, the passage does not tell us about a conversion. In later chapters of the book of John, Nicodemus’ actions would lead us to believe that he was a changed man.
John 7:51 - “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
John 19:39-40 - "And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as is the custom of the Jews is to bury,"
WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?
•Unlike some others who encountered Jesus, There's no mention of Nicodemus being known for a sin. Though he was religious, he didn't know the Lord.
Even religious leaders need saving
• An encounter with Christ with no fanfare but led to a transformed life?
• No mention of a conversion in the story of Nicodemus.
• A changed heart always manifests itself in forms of actions. By their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:16a)
o He defended Jesus in the presence of the ruling council.
o He accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to give Jesus a proper burial.
FINAL WORD – WHAT CAN WE APPLY IN OUR OWN WALK FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Even a highly devotedly religious leader as Nicodemus could not be saved by the position that he held. His only means of salvations was to be born again just as it is for us today. Regardless of your situation, religious and political position, there is one name that saves us all and that is to be reborn by faith in Jesus Christ.
“How can this be?” (John 3:9). Sometimes, we’re too religious for our own good salvation. Nicodemus could not understand how a grown religious man as he was had to be reborn. Our own worldly wisdom becomes a roadblock to Godly wisdom gained by having a relationship with Christ. Nicodemus could not see what Jesus was saying from a spiritual standpoint because he himself while religious did not have God’s spirit with him.
So let’s not complicate a simple matter.
• "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9
• “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
• Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
• “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and find pasture … I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:9)
• Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25)
• Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
• “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8)
• “…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ … for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
• For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:15-16)
The bottom line is we are not saved by being religious and following all the laws and tradition of church. Being a faithful member of The First Church of Anything, paying our tithes, involved in ministries and being faithful to all religious rituals doesn’t save us. All we have to do is admit that we are sinners, be willing to confess our sins before God, and be willing to repent and turn from those sins. Then, accept that Jesus Christ came to die for all of our sins, that He rose from the dead on the third day, and then accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior.
Next Week: The Adulterous Woman (John 8:1-11)
Reference:
http://www.johnwmyers.com/bible5.html
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2003/20030115.htm
http://www.gotquestions.org/Sanhedrin.html
http://bible.org/seriespage/manifestation-messiah-nicodemus-john-31-21
http://www.bible-knowledge.com/what-is-salvation/
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