(1) What had Jesus seen that he did not entrust himself to the people? 2:23-25
These people saw the miraculous signs Jesus was doing and they believed. What did they believe? Nicodemus was one of them who saw the miraculous signs and he believed that Jesus was a teacher who had come from God 3:2. In 3:3-15, Jesus explained what Nicodemus lacked and so were those whom Jesus would not entrust himself to.
(2) Jesus knew what was in man 2:25b, and He knew Nicodemus. He knew that Nicodemus needed to get ready in order to see/enter the Kingdom of God. Someone from God had come and therefore the Kingdom of God was near. Nicodemus, you needed to get ready and be borned from above.
3:3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
(NET) The Greek word ἄνωθεν (anōthen) can mean both “again” and “from above,” giving rise to Nicodemus’ misunderstanding about a second physical birth (v. 4).
(3) Getting ready to enter the Kingdom of God was not invented by Jesus. It was revealed in the OT.
3:5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
(NET) Jesus’ somewhat enigmatic statement points to the necessity of being born “from above,” because water and wind/spirit/Spirit come from above. Isaiah 44:3–5 and Ezek 37:9–10 are pertinent examples of water and wind as life-giving symbols of the Spirit of God in his work among people. Both occur in contexts that deal with the future restoration of Israel as a nation prior to the establishment of the messianic kingdom. It is therefore particularly appropriate that Jesus should introduce them in a conversation about entering the kingdom of God... both water and wind are figures...that represent the regenerating work of the Spirit in the lives of men and women.
(NET) Jesus’ somewhat enigmatic statement points to the necessity of being born “from above,” because water and wind/spirit/Spirit come from above. Isaiah 44:3–5 and Ezek 37:9–10 are pertinent examples of water and wind as life-giving symbols of the Spirit of God in his work among people. Both occur in contexts that deal with the future restoration of Israel as a nation prior to the establishment of the messianic kingdom. It is therefore particularly appropriate that Jesus should introduce them in a conversation about entering the kingdom of God... both water and wind are figures...that represent the regenerating work of the Spirit in the lives of men and women.
Reflection: What kind of attitude did Nicodemus have when he came to Jesus? Whom did he represent? He cares about if someone came from God, but he did not believe that he himself needed to be changed when God came to him. He did not care about if his life fitted to see God. I think most idol-worshippers have this mentality. "Please dont bother me for whatever I want to do. I will go to worship you, but "who I am/what I want to do" are not something that you should bother me about."
Our lives need to be regenerated implies that our old lives are not fitting in the kingdom of God. For believers in Jesus, we all have this new life (3:16), but do we still live like our old-self? Or do we live according to the new life?
(4) The last word of Nicodemus was, "How can these things be?" v.9. Together with Jesus commented on him "Do not be amazed that I said to you..." v.7, Nicodemus did not grasp what Jesus said. Why?
3:10 Jesus answered, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?3:11 I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.3:12 If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
(NET) Obviously earthly things and heavenly things are in contrast, but what is the contrast? What are earthly things which Jesus has just spoken to Nicodemus?...It makes most sense to take this as a reference to the things Jesus has just said (and the things he is about to say, vv. 13–15)... are so called because they take place on earth, in contrast to things like v. 16, which take place in heaven. Some have added the suggestion that the things are called earthly because physical analogies (birth, wind, water) are used to describe them. This is possible, but it seems more probable that Jesus calls these things earthly because they happen on earth (even though they are spiritual things). In the context, taking earthly things as referring to the words Jesus has just spoken fits with the fact that Nicodemus did not believe. And he would not after hearing heavenly things either, unless he first believed in the earthly things—which included the necessity of a regenerating work from above, by the Holy Spirit.
In summary, Nicodemus lacked faith in Jesus' words.
Reflection: Nathanel believed and Jesus said He was going to show him the greater things. Nicodemus did not believe, but Jesus also mentioned that he should have believed in the earthly things and there would be heavenly things! Our God is so boundless and infinite. We cannot fathom about God and thus we should never stop to seek after Him. No one should boast in their knowledge about God.
Audrey
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