Who is Nicodemus?

The Second Sunday in Lent
March 12, 2017

GOSPEL LESSON: John 3:1-17
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

A man named Nicodemus came and talked with Jesus, but who is Nicodemus? We see him in the Bible three times: In John Chapter Three when he visited Jesus, in Chapter Seven (7:50) when he vindicated Jesus speaking in his defense, and in Chapter Nineteen (19:39) when he and Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus.

Who is Nicodemus? We are told that he is a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, which was like the Jewish Supreme Court. He was a member of the Pharisee party. Jesus calls him “Israel’s teacher” so perhaps he was a rabbi. He knew the Bible, and he saw that Jesus had come from God. But other members of the Pharisee party rejected Jesus, and so he came to Jesus at night when he would not be seen.

The topic of discussion is the “Kingdom of God. To “see” or to “enter” the Kingdom of God equals “eternal life” and “salvation.” Jesus said “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” In this sentence we have the first word play of this passage. The Greek word “anothen” can mean either “again” or “from above” [This might be noted in a footnote in your Bible.] Nicodemus understood the first meaning and so asked, “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” But Jesus is speaking of a spiritual birth “born of water and the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is from heaven above.

The second word play is on the Greek word “pneuma.” Both the Greek word and the Hebrew word “ruach” has three meanings: “spirit, wind, and breath.” And so Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” To be born again from above by the Holy Spirit means that a person who believes in Jesus will have eternal life in the Kingdom of God. The conclusion of the meeting with Jesus is verses 14-17.

“14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ”

Who is Nicodemus? We are like modern day Nicodemuses sometimes. As Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, I and other preachers sometimes come to Jesus late on Friday or Saturday and pray for help in preparing a sermon. “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. How can I present the Gospel message in way that my congregation will understand and believe it? Jesus said, “12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” Perhaps the way to understand heavenly things is to speak first of earthly things. We talk of sin. Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness to heal the people who had been bitten by poisonous fiery serpents after they had sinned against the Lord. People looked at the bronze snake in faith and were saved. We have sinned. But if we look up to Jesus on the cross, we too shall be forgiven and saved. The death of Jesus is a very earthly thing, and it is the way to understand heavenly things.

Who is Nicodemus? It is the person who is seeking the answers to the questions of life and salvation. Nicodemus came to Jesus secretly at night so that no one would know that he had spoken to him. In Japan there is often hostility toward the church and Christians. So there are cases in Japan where a person will not go to a church in their neighborhood where they will be seen and known, but will go to a church on the other side of town where nobody knows them. Or they will join an English class at a church as a safe way to explore Christianity.

Who is Nicodemus? It is the person who has come to faith like Nicodemus did. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit creates faith and we witness that faith in the water of baptism which is a rebirth. But baptism is more than just a confession of our faith. Baptism is a called a “Sacrament” because it is God doing something in our lives that creates and sustains and strengthens our faith. Once we are born, we are alive and yearly celebrate our birthdays. Once we are spiritually born again in baptism, we are alive and we can daily celebrate our salvation.

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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