After having seen the miracles Jesus performed (2:23), a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus at night and said, “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” (3:2). Jesus’ response to Nicodemus does not make much sense unless we remember that Jesus already knew his heart (see 2:24-25) and was getting to the real reason Nicodemus came to see Him. Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (3:3). Nicodemus really desired to know how he could enter into the kingdom of God. Most Pharisees and Jews believed that entrance into the kingdom of God, which is understood as the earthly millennial kingdom at the end of the present church age, was obtained through obedience to the law of Moses and their status as being a Jew; however, Jesus preached a message of repentance and faith to enter the kingdom of God, which confused many Pharisees and Jews. So when Jesus uses the illustration of a man being “born again” in order to explain entrance into the kingdom of God, Nicodemus becomes more confused and asks, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (3:4) Nicodemus thinks Jesus is speaking of physical birth when in reality Jesus is referring to being born spiritually. To help Nicodemus understand the concept of being
born again, Jesus says “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’” (3:5-7). Instead of being reborn physically, Nicodemus needed to be “born of water and the Spirit.” When Jesus refers to water, He is not referring to literal water but a spiritual cleansing (repentance) and He references the Holy Spirit as the One who accomplishes this work in the heart of individuals and brings new life through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul writes to Titus about this same concept in Titus 3:4-5, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit….” Jesus recognized that Nicodemus may not be able to fully comprehend the Spirit’s work, but He declared to him that the results will be apparent as the Spirit brings life change into a person who has repented and believed (3:8).
Nicodemus is still confused (3:9) and Jesus exposes the inability of righteous works to gain entrance into the kingdom of God, as the Pharisees taught (3:10). Beginning in John 3:11, Jesus begins to explain to Nicodemus that his failure to believe in Jesus as the Son of God will prohibit him from entering the kingdom of God (3:11-12). Jesus further explains that only He had a permanent residence in heaven (prior to becoming God in flesh) making Him the exclusive witness to the things of God (3:12). Jesus then reflects on Moses’ actions in the wilderness when the people of Israel had to look up to the bronze serpent on a pole in order to be spared death (3:14; Numbers 21:4-9). In the same way, Jesus Christ would soon be “lifted up” on the cross to die so that those who would look up to Him in belief could have life (3:15). Why did God send Jesus to the world? John makes it clear that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (3:16-17). Jesus did not come to bring judgment on people, but He came so that people could be saved from the penalty of sin, which is death.
Jesus is careful to provide Nicodemus with the “key ingredient” to enter into the kingdom of God, “He who believes in Him [Jesus] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (3:18). What will hold men back from believing? John reveals that although light [Jesus] has come to the world, many are blinded by their love for sin and their refusal to repent of their evil deeds (3:19). Many choose to continue in a lifestyle of sinfulness instead of embracing the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ (3:20). Which have you chosen?
Dear God, thank You for loving the world so much that You were willing to send Your only Son to die for the sins of mankind and extend mercy to all those who believe. Although we do not deserve it, I thank You for Your forgiveness.
