The Story of Nicodemus: Understanding the New Birth

John 3:1-21

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot 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 to you, You must be born again.

8 The wind blows where it wants, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said to him, Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things?

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which 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 whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are worked in God.

The story of Nicodemus in John 3:1-21 is a profound lesson on the necessity of the new birth, revealing that no amount of human learning, high position, or legalistic observance can provide entrance into the kingdom of God John 3:1-10DA 168.4+1. 🌟

The Humiliating Necessity of the New Birth

Nicodemus, a ruler and master in Israel, approached Jesus at night to avoid the humiliation of being seen with the despised Nazarene John 3:1-21888 1446.1+1. While he acknowledged Jesus as a teacher sent from God, Christ immediately directed him to the most foundational principle: that unless a man is born again, he cannot even see the kingdom of heaven John 3:3DA 168.4+1. This was a startling and humiliating statement to a man who prided himself on his good works, benevolence, and status as an IsraeliteDA 168.4+2. It demonstrates that the Christian life is not a mere modification of the old nature, but a total transformation and a new life altogether17MR 359.2+1.

The Mystery of the Spirit's Work

Nicodemus struggled to understand how a literal birth could occur a second time, but Jesus explained that this was a spiritual birth involving both water and the Spirit John 3:4-5LTJMB3 115.1+1.

• The Wind as an Illustration: Christ used the wind to illustrate the Holy Spirit's work; though the wind itself is invisible, its powerful effects are clearly seen and felt John 3:8DHF 57.3+1.

• Tangible Results: Similarly, the new birth is a supernatural process that cannot be fully explained by human reason, but it manifests in tangible results such as a changed character and a life purified from evilST November 30, 1891, par. 1+2.

• A Clean Heart: This transformation requires the heart to be cleansed from its natural defilement by the Spirit of GodDHF 57.3+2.

The Uplifted Saviour and the Plan of Salvation

To help Nicodemus grasp the manner of this change, Jesus referred to a familiar historical symbol: the brazen serpent lifted by Moses in the wilderness John 3:14DA 174.3+1.

• Look and Live: Just as the Israelites who had been bitten by fiery serpents were healed by looking in faith at the serpent on the pole, so must humanity look to the Son of Man as their Saviour from the poison of sin John 3:15DA 174.3+1.

• God's Infinite Love: The central truth of this encounter is that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to rescue man from a lost condition John 3:16DA 174.3+1.

• Individual Choice: Salvation is offered to all, but it remains an individual decision to step out of the darkness and into the light of truth John 3:17-211888 394.1+1.

A Lasting Influence

The words spoken in that quiet night meeting were not lost; they eventually bore fruit in the life of Nicodemus2SP 134.3. When Jesus was crucified, Nicodemus remembered the prophecy that the Son of Man must be lifted up, and he came forward with Joseph of Arimathea to provide an honorable burial for the Lord John 19:38-402SP 134.3+1. His story serves as a perpetual reminder that everyone—from rulers in high positions to the common person—must experience this radical change of heart to see God’s kingdom John 3:78T 149.3+1. 🕊️