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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
NICODEMUS CAME
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," JOH 3:5.
Notice the importance Jesus places on His words. There are two conditions which must be met before man can enter the kingdom of God: he must be born of water, and he must be born of the Spirit. They are co-essential because one cannot operate without the other effectually. Also, notice that Jesus says, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee," to demand our attention. He wants us to hear and to understand how essential it is to be born again. In V:3 Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Being born of water and the Spirit is what constitutes the new birth.
It is very important to understand what these two elements are and what they represent. Some teach that the water is the symbol of baptism, and unless one is baptized, one cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. That is absolutely wrong. That is not the meaning of this verse.
The Heidleburg catechism begins by asking what three things are necessary for a person to live and die happily. The first answer is how great our sins and miseries are. That is not what the Lord Jesus said. He said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," JOH 3:5. That is what is needful. It doesn't say what we need to know; it is what we need to experience. We must be possessors of the new birth.
Now, let's delve into the historical background of the times when Jesus taught the disciples. The chapter before us again reveals the blindness and emptiness of Judaism and the ushering in of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ. Notice the blindness of the Sanhedrin which is the highest ecclesiastical court of Israel.
A man out of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus, was a true representative of the unrepentant natural man. In other words, he is a true representative of those who by nature are outside of the new birth. They do not understand the new birth. He is a man of the Jews, and he is one of their leaders, a member of the Sanhedrin-- Israel's highest ecclesiastical court, yet he does not understand the most essential element of salvation.
JOH 3:1 says, "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews." Nicodemus was clearly one of Christ's chosen flock; we will see how the working of grace works upon the heart, the attitude, and causes a hungering and thirsting after the true knowledge of salvation even though it is not understood. The new birth comes like a wind of which you can feel the effect but do not know from whence it comes.
At first Nicodemus acted timidly, coming to Jesus by night; he didn't dare to come out openly lest the members of the Sanhedrin discover he was inquiring about Jesus. Later it is obvious he became very defensive of His Master. He wasn't so timid as he grew in grace. JOH 7:44-51 says, "And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?"
Here we have part of the account of those men sent to take Jesus into custody. When they came back without Jesus, the chief priests wanted to know why. In the conversation which follows it is evident that the chief priests were passing judgment upon Jesus; they were saying that anyone who does not follow the law of the scribes and Pharisees was cursed. Nicodemus was becoming more outspoken; he has heard, and the power of the Word has been taking effect.
When all of Jesus' disciples had fled and forsaken Jesus, see how bold and dedicated Nicodemus became to his Saviour. He came to assist Joseph of Arimathaea in giving Jesus an honorable burial. JOH 19:39-40 says, "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." Reading that account we can see the reminder of how timid Nicodemus was at first. We also saw this reminder in JOH 7:50, "Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)."
Now we see Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea, the "they" referred to in V:40, took Jesus' body and gave it an honorable burial. They used a very generous amount of myrrh and aloes, linen clothes with spices, and buried him among the rich. In a time when Jesus' own disciples had fled and forsook him, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea came forth very boldly to give Him an honorable burial.
JOH 2:11 says, "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." This manifestation of His glory is only seen by the revelation of the Holy Spirit through the authority of the Word. Jesus' disciples believed upon Jesus through the manifestation of His glory at the beginning of miracles. It was at the beginning of miracles that Nicodemus came to Jesus, lured by His teachings. Later we read in JOH 7:46 and 50, that Nicodemus was one of those who had gone to take Jesus, but didn't because he said, "Never man spake like this man." He was one who would not judge a man until they knew what he was doing. Nicodemus was one who had seen the manifestation of Jesus by the Holy Spirit through the authority of the Word. Nicodemus saw and understood the authority with which Jesus spoke.
Nicodemus "...came to Jesus by night," as we see from JOH 3:2 "...and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God [Nicodemus saw the distinction between Jesus' teaching and that of the Sanhedrin]: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him," JOH 3:2. Nicodemus began to realize that Jesus was performing a miracle, and there was a miracle taking place in his own heart that he did not understand. He could see that something was taking place in his attitude and understanding, but didn't understand what it was. He saw the authority in the Word with which Jesus spoke.
This manifestation of Christ's glory is in the power of His Word. Notice in the beginning of miracles in JOH 2:11, "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory." How does the Lord manifest His glory to you and I if it isn't in the power of His Word? The disciples saw the power of His Word.
One example is found in JOH 2:7-9, "Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom." Jesus gave the servants His instructions, and as they obeyed the miracle was performed; the water was transformed into wine; they saw the manifestation of His glory in the power of His Word.
This is the power Nicodemus saw; he said that no man can do these miracles except God be with him. He saw the manifestation of Christ's glory in the power of His Word. Jesus revealed the need of something more than the letter of the law to Nicodemus, and brought him to Himself seeking to be taught. In the Sanhedrin the letter of the law was all that they understood, but the power of the Word of God showed Nicodemus the need for the spirit of the law. Nicodemus began to see that repentance begins with the change of mind and attitude; he saw it as an essential element, but he doesn't understand what brings it about. He saw the miracle take place in the preaching of Jesus, but he didn't understand how it was performed. His only explanation was that surely God was with Him.
Nicodemus was drawn by the Holy Spirit unto Jesus to be taught; he saw the need of something more than obeying the mere letter of the law. This is one of the best evidences that the Spirit of God has begun the work of grace in our hearts; then there is a desire to understand the will of God. EPH 4:22-24 teaches how the new birth is a renewing of the heart, and of the attitude toward God's will, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Amen.
O what a wonderful, wonderful day
Day I will never forget;
After I’d wandered in darkness away,
Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend
He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling,
With joy I’m telling,
He made all the darkness depart!
Born of the Spirit with life from above
Into God’s family divine,
Justified fully thru Calvary’s love,
O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made
When as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer of grace He did proffer
He saved me, O Praise His dear name!
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole,
My sins were washed away--
And my night was turned to day--
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.