Nicodemus: You must be born again (John 3:1-13)
Jesus challenges Nicodemus in four ways. First, he tells Nicodemus seeking truth and responding to miracles are not enough to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Testimony & Belief
- In John 1-2, we’ve seen belief result from testimony and personal experience.
- But that connection is not automatic.
- Genuine faith requires more than seeking truth and being impressed by miracles.
Nicodemus
- As a Pharisee, Nicodemus was a teacher of the Old Testament.
- As a leader of the Jews, he is a member of the Sanhedrin.
- Nicodemus approaches Jesus by night to avoid others knowing about his interest.
Jesus’ First Challenge to Nicodemus
- This dialogue is a response to Nicodemus’ opening statement: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. (John 3:2)”
- Jesus challenges Nicodemus 4 ways. We’ll look at the first in this podcast.
- The first challenge: Spiritual rebirth (“being born from above”) is necessary for entering God’s kingdom.
- The need for spiritual rebirth was taught in the Old Testament (John 3:10):
- The Exodus journey teaches us God revealing Himself through miracles is not enough to create faith.
- Deuteronomy 30:4–8—God will circumcise hearts so people love Him fully.
- Jeremiah 31:31–34—God will introduce a new covenant where God writes the Law on their hearts, leading them to righteousness.
- Ezekiel 36:22–27—God will cleanse their hearts and give them His Spirit so that they will walk in His statues.
- Seeking truth and seeing miracles is not sufficient to enter the kingdom of God.
Born Again
- You need the right birthright to enter the kingdom of God.
- Being born Jewish and making a good-faith effort to keep the Law is not the right birthright.
- To enter the kingdom of God, we must have the Spirit give us a new birthright by cleansing us of our rebellion and rejection of God.
Spirit & Wind
- As in Hebrew, the Greek word for “wind” and the Greek word for Spirit are the same word.
- The wind is invisible to us, but we see its effects.
- We cannot control the wind but we see the changes it causes.
- The Spirit of God at work in a person is like the wind. The Holy Spirit acts to carry on the plans of God. He does not follow our timetable or depend on our human efforts.
Genuine saving faith requires more than intellectual acknowledgment or excitement over miracles. It requires inner transformation by God’s Spirit.
Jesus shows Nicodemus, it’s not enough to see a few miracles and decide God sent Jesus. He must come to grips with more truth.
Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.
Next: 08 Nicodemus: For God so loved the world (John 3:14-21)
Previous: 06 Jesus Cleanses the Temple (John 2:13-25)
Series: Gospel of John: Believe and Find Life
Study: Gospel of John Bible Study Resources
Podcast season 25, episode 7
