Link to next article
Have you read John 3 recently? We have studied Nicodemus' conversation with
Jesus many times. Often that study examines the incident under our
spiritual microscope. We focus on the new birth and the Spirit. That
certainly is a basic, valid concern in understanding that scripture. But it
is easy to be so focused on the subject of the conversation that we never
consider the situation. It also teaches us a basic lesson.
Personally, I regard Nicodemus a man of courage. He was a member of
Israel's highest court, the Jerusalem Sanhedrin. In theory, that court was
formed from the seventy best scholars in Israel. They supposedly had
Israel's best minds and best educated perspectives. Their influential
rulings bound devout Jews in all nations. Nicodemus was one of these
seventy men.
This court declared Jesus to be dangerously controversial. Eventually this
court sought and acquired Jesus' execution. We know of only two men on that
court who looked with favor on Jesus. Nicodemus was one of them.
Perhaps Nicodemus went to Jesus at night because Nicodemus' peers found
Jesus objectionable. Perhaps he went at night because Jesus' popularity
with the masses made a meaningful, private conversation impossible during
the day. Whatever the reason, he went with genuine respect and appreciation
of Jesus' deeds. "God sent you. No one can perform your miracles unless
God is with him."
Capture the scene. This learned man acknowledged that Jesus came from God.
Jesus replied to him in specifics, not parables. He was capable of having a
"peer" conversation with Jesus. So Jesus stressed the importance of the new
birth. Nicodemus was immediately confused. Jesus marveled. In essence,
Jesus' asked, "How can you know so much and understand so little?"
I sympathize with Nicodemus. Each time I better understand scripture, I ask
myself the same question. I wonder if Jesus would not ask most of us the
same question.
Link to next article
Link to other Writings of David Chadwell