The Sabbath-school lessons have been discontinued. The Lesson Quarterly may be obtained, containing three months' lessons and notes, for five cents. Address, Pacific Press, Mountain View, Cal. The Sunday-school lessons will continue.
(1) "Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: (2) the same came unto Him by night, and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him. (3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he can not see the kingdom of God. (4) Nicodemus saith unto 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? (5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he can not enter into 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) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. (8) The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (9) Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be? (10) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art Thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things? (11) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. (12) If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? (13) And no one hath ascended into heaven, but He that descended out of heaven, even the Son of Man, who is in heaven. (14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; (15) that whosoever believeth may in Him have eternal life."
Golden Text.—"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." Verse 16.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What noted man is mentioned in this lesson? Of what sect was he? What position did he hold? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) At what time did he visit Jesus? With what flattering words did he address the Saviour? Verse 2. Note 2. (3) How did Jesus reply to this salutation? Verse 3. Note 3. (4) What questions show that Nicodemus did not comprehend the Lord's meaning? Verse 4. Note 4. (5) What further explanation did Jesus give? Verse 5. Note 5. (6) What is the difference between the natural birth and that of the Spirit? Verse 6. (7) At what did Jesus bid Nicodemus not to wonder? Verse 7. (8) With what words did Jesus enforce His lesson? Verse 8. Note 6. (9) How did Nicodemus show his desire for further instruction? Verse 9. (10) How did Jesus express a natural surprise at the ignorance of this "teacher"? Verse 10. Note 7. (11) What did He say of His own testimony? Verse 11, 31-34. (12) How did He compare earthly with heavenly things? Verse 12. (13) From whom alone can we learn of heavenly things? Verse 13. Note 8. (14) To what event did Jesus refer as illustrative of His mission to the world? Verse 14. (15) For what purpose was the Son of Man "lifted up" on the cross? Verse 15. Note 9.
NOTES.
1. It is said that among the Pharisees were to be found most of the prominent persons who were at that time looking for the Messiah. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, or Jewish national council, and very wealthy, in fact, the teacher of the Sanhedrin. Verse 10.
2. It was not cowardice that caused Nicodemus to come to Jesus by night. That was a time in which a more private personal interview could be had. There was also in it that spirit of precaution that afterward enabled him to give conservative counsel to his brother officials with regard to Jesus, and to forestall any rash action. See John 7:50, 51. Altho he was accustomed to receiving homage from the poor, Nicodemus approached the poor Galilean with diplomatic courtesy, conceding that He was a minister of God.
3. If Nicodemus expected a return of compliments, he must have been disappointed. Jesus wasted no words; He saw the rich official's need as a sinner, and immediately sought to help him. His first need was to have his mind disabused of the idea that his position as a Jew, and especially as a ruler and teacher, would assure him a place in the kingdom of heaven. He must be born anew, "born from above." God's children are of heavenly birth.
4. Nicodemus' questions show that, however well versed he may have been in religious ceremonials and the letter of the law, he was wofully lacking in knowledge of spiritual things.
5. The words of Jesus in verse 5 "referred to water baptism and the grace of God. The power of the Holy Spirit transforms the entire man. This change constitutes the new birth."
6. "The wind bloweth."—Better "the Spirit moveth where it will." The original word is "pneuma," never rendered wind in any other place in the New Testament. Nicodemus knew this great fact by theory at least. As the moving and power of God's Spirit which he acknowledged, but which was beyond his grasp, so the power of the Spirit to bring forth a new being, tho beyond his comprehension, should be acknowledged by him. "The mind is an invisible agent of God to produce tangible results. Its influence is powerful, and governs the actions of men. If purified from all evil, it is the motive power for good. The regenerating Spirit of God, taking possession of the mind, transforms the life; wicked thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced, and love, peace, and humility take the place of anger, envy, and strife. That power which no human eye can see has created a new being in the image of God."—Great Controversy, Vol. 2.
7. The question, "Art thou the teacher of Israel?" indicates that besides the exalted position of Nicodemus politically, he was one from whom the people received religious doctrine—that which purported to be spiritual instruction. So here was an interview between two teachers; and the One "sent from God" upbraids the one recognized by the people, because he did not understand the simplest principle connected with that which he himself was assuming to teach. And so it must ever be when men depart from the law of God and teach in its stead the traditions of men. "If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt. 6:23.
8. No man hath ascended up to heaven and brought back the testimony of an eye-witness. Only He who came down from heaven can witness correctly concerning heavenly things. This assertion of Jesus forever precludes the idea of communication with so-called departed spirits respecting conditions in the heavenly world. All such pretensions are manifestly fraudulent. We can get no information in regard to the heavenly land, excepting that which comes through the Spirit and Word of Him who came down from heaven.
9. "The serpent" which Moses set up in the wilderness was a type of Christ, and looking to the serpent in that trying hour was typical of faith in Christ. The looking was an act of faith, implying repentance and a return to obedience of God's commandments. So the sinner looking to Christ by faith is healed of his sin—his serpent bite—and restored to a life of obedience through faith.
