Nicodemus

In the New Testament, Nicodemus was different from those who believed in Jesus after seeing His miracles; he genuinely sought the truth. As a Pharisee, Nicodemus belonged to the most influential Jewish religious sect of the time, zealous for the traditions of his ancestors. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin (the supreme council), placing him in the highest class of Jewish society. He was a teacher of Israel, possessing a very high level of education, and as an older man, he was revered for his life experience. He was humble, willing to learn from the younger Jesus, and respectfully addressed Him as “Rabbi” (teacher). His conversation with Jesus shows that he was an honest and moral man.

Nicodemus acknowledged that Jesus could only perform miracles if God was with Him. He saw a way forward in Jesus and wanted to receive better teachings from Him to improve his own behavior before God. However, he did not yet understand who Jesus was. Nicodemus thought that people needed good teachings to improve their actions, but Jesus fundamentally challenged this approach. Jesus emphasized that the Word became flesh to come to earth and give people new life, to help them understand and know God, and to enable them to live in God’s kingdom. What a person needs is not instruction, but life. If a person is not born again of the Spirit and does not have God’s life, they cannot live out behavior that is pleasing to God and cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus was quite surprised by Jesus’ words. At the time, the Pharisees believed that at the final resurrection, all Jews would enter the kingdom of God, with the exception of those who were unfaithful and apostate. Therefore, Judaism would accept Gentile converts and give them a baptism of “water,” immersing them to show that their uncleanness was washed away, and then they would be called a “new creation” or a “reborn person.” But without a heavenly life, one cannot understand heavenly things. Nicodemus misunderstood the meaning of being born again, thinking that to be reborn, a person must re-enter the womb and be born again physically. In reality, no matter how many times a person is born again from the womb, they will still be flesh and their corrupted nature will not change. What a person needs is a spiritual rebirth. A person “born of the Spirit” is not only able to understand the things of God’s kingdom but can also truly enter the kingdom and enjoy all of its riches. The prophecy of being born of the Spirit had been foretold in the Old Testament (Isaiah 44:3, 59:21; Ezekiel 11:19-20, 36:24-27; Joel 2:28-29; Psalm 51:10), but these prophecies were overlooked by the Jewish religious leaders of the time. The Holy Spirit is the life-giving Spirit who brings conviction of sin and repentance, works within a person, and raises a person’s spirit from being dead in sin (Ephesians 2:5).

Nicodemus is mentioned three times in the Gospel of John: first, when he visits Jesus at night to hear His teachings (John 3:1-21); second, when he questions the legal procedures of the Sanhedrin regarding Jesus (John 7:50-52); and finally, after Jesus’ crucifixion, when he and Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus’ body (John 19:38-40).

Edited and compiled based on the Chinese Union Version of the Bible and a comprehensive biblical interpretation.