We found the story of Jesus and Nicodemus in three places in the Bible, all in the book of John. Throughout his ministry, Jesus often clashed with the stubborn and legalistic Pharisees. His message, which was in direct opposition to his power and principles, focused on a spiritual transformation of the heart, not meticulous adherence to the law.
In order to experience salvation and truly see the kingdom of God at work in the lives of human beings, Jesus taught that we must put aside the old and sinful life to become new creations, transformed, renewed and reformed by the grace of God, not by personal works. Jesus would later say that we must be “born again.”
This idea of “born again” (one of the most powerful and predominant themes in the Christian faith) actually arose from a conversation with a Pharisee. In John 3, Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council, approached Jesus at night with a seeking heart and a question about the deeper meaning of salvation. Jesus’ response would not only change his life; it would forever change the lives of future Christians and like-minded seekers.
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Who was Nicodemus in the Bible?
Nicodemus, a name in greek meaning “victory of the people,” he was a member of the Sanhedrin, a regional body of religious leaders and Jewish scholars charged with handling matters of Jewish law and religion. As a member of this body, Nicodemus would have been a cultured, privileged, and influential man, responsible for knowing any teacher or public figure who might mislead people.
One night, Nicodemus approached Jesus in private to ask him about the things he had seen and heard. Some believe that he came as a spy for the Sanhedrin, seeking to discover the nature of Jesus’ ministry or to trap him in a response that could be used against him in court. While this could provide an explanation for Nicodemus’s motivations, there is not enough evidence in the text to support this theory.
The fact that he came to Jesus privately, instead of publicly challenging him, as other Pharisees had frequently done, could reveal more about his heart and his possible motivation. Everything we know about Nicodemus comes from the Gospel of John. What we read in John 3 is that Nicodemus approached Jesus, beginning the conversation with a statement, not a question:
“Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, because no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him” (John 3:2).
Nicodemus, if nothing else, was different from most Pharisees in that he recognized Jesus’ authority and divine wisdom from the start. He may not have been a true believer or follower of Jesus (at the time), but he couldn’t argue against what he had seen and heard.
“The miracles of Jesus were his credentials.” Nicodemus had witnessed the miracles of Jesus and heard his teachings. He now searched for answers and it came when he knew that he could talk to Jesus one on one.
Why did Nicodemus approach Jesus at night?
The Scriptures do not tell us, but several reasons have been hypothesized:
- Was he simply a curious and inquisitive seeker who was interested in the teachings of Jesus and his ability to perform miracles?
- Was he afraid to come in the daylight for fear of being seen with Jesus? He could have lost his position, wealth and status if he had come to see Jesus of his own free will. Fierce opposition to Jesus from the Jews was already growing daily.
- It was Easter, maybe he wanted to wait until dark when the crowds had thinned and Jesus had finished teaching?
- The Sanhedrin sent a delegation to investigate John the Baptist (John 1: 19-20). Did Nicodemus go to Jesus as his representative to investigate and question Jesus?
- Did Nicodemus long to discern if Jesus could be the long-awaited Messiah?
Nicodemus and Jesus
Jesus responds to Nicodemus’ statement and gets right to the heart of the matter:
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” v3 NIV. (Born again translates to “born from above” in Greek.)
Nicodemus takes Jesus’ words literally and questions a physical rebirth. He believed that his Jewishness meant that he had been born directly into the kingdom of God. It didn’t make sense to him that there was another way to heaven. Nicodemus is confused when Jesus explains that being born again means being born of the Spirit.
Jesus expresses astonishment that Nicodemus, a brilliant teacher of vast knowledge, did not understand the meaning of the Scriptures regarding being born of the Spirit. Nicodemus should have known of God’s promise.”I will put my Spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Jesus teaches Nicodemus
Jesus reminds Nicodemus of the Old Testament story of Moses and the Brazen Serpent (Numbers 21: 4-8). “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.“. v14-15.
As the bronze serpent was lifted up on a pole, all who looked at it and believed would not die, but would live. This story foreshadows the cross. Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he would be raised up (on the cross) as the bronze serpent to save people from eternal death.
Jesus then gives Nicodemus the great truth about God’s plan for salvation in simple terms that remain one of the most well-known and revered Bible verses:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” v16.
That seems to end this conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, but we see Nicodemus again two more times.
Nicodemus the Pharisee
Most likely, Nicodemus knew what Jesus had been up to since their original nightly meeting. He was probably aware of Jesus’ ongoing healings and teachings. in john 7:50-51 we see Nicodemus speaking to a gathering of the Pharisees. But the Pharisees were growing impatient and frustrated with Jesus, and had planned an illegal capture of Him by the temple guards. Nicodemus speaks in defense of Jesus:
“Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before and was one of them, asked: ‘Does our law condemn someone without first listening to him to find out what he is doing?’” V50-51.
Nicodemus did not make a direct statement of faith in Jesus. Instead, he protests an illegal action based on his own rule of law. Declaring Jesus the Son of God at this point would not have changed the Pharisees’ mindset, but by raising a legitimate legal objection, you could possibly protect Jesus. Isn’t it ironic that the Pharisees, who were so strict about keeping the law, evaded it for their own personal reasons when it came to Jesus? Nicodemus had gone from seeker/skeptic to advocate.
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea
Our last look at the story of Jesus and Nicodemus comes after Jesus’ crucifixion. “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but in secret because he was afraid of the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took away the body. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who had earlier visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of and aloe, about seventy-five pounds.
They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the aromatic spices in strips of linen” (John 19: 38-40). Like Nicodemus, Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin. Isn’t it interesting that 2 members of the Sanhedrin assisted Jesus, but none of the 12 disciples helped? They left Jesus in fear and confusion.
Nicodemus and Joseph were wealthy and powerful men (The amount of burial spices Nicodemus provided was expensive. The large amount was typical of the burial of kings.) Nicodemus’ cooperation with Joseph at the burial of Jesus shows us his love and devotion.
Nicodemus’s faith had finally matured to the point where he bravely went out with Joseph and gave Jesus a private burial. His actions showed that they were willing to give up everything to care for Jesus.
What happened to Nicodemus?
The Biblical story of Nicodemus ends with the burial of Jesus. My Bible commentary says that neither appear in Jewish records or in the traditions of their time, presumably because they were seen as traitors; their names were expunged from all records. The Bible does not tell us their fate. Our answers will reach heaven. But until then, I believe Nicodemus was an honest seeker who progressed to defending Jesus in court and then boldly proclaiming his faith with his actions.
What did Nicodemus learn from Jesus?
At first, Nicodemus was the “teacher of teachers,” but he still did not understand that he was born of the Spirit. But Nicodemus turned to Jesus for answers to his honest questions. He learned that acting “religious” and knowing the Scriptures would not get him into heaven.
Each of us must study the person of Jesus for ourselves and decide if we believe that He is who He says He is: our Savior. We often see Nicodemus described as a “covert” believer. It took Nicodemus a while to grow strong enough in his faith to act on it. But Jesus was patient with Nicodemus, and it’s the same with you and me. God is on the lookout for our spiritual growth!
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What did Nicodemus ask Jesus and why?
To Nicodemus’s opening statement, Jesus responded:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:2).
This answer clearly puzzled the inquisitive Pharisee, who quickly asked: “How can a man be born when he is old? He can’t enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, right?” (John 3:4) Nicodemus would ask a very logical question to clarify a very spiritual truth.
In his mind, it made no sense how a person could be born a second time or how one would return to their mother’s womb to do so. In purely physical terms, she was right. It’s not possible. But the mysteries of God and the wonders of his kingdom are not always apparent or understood in purely literal or physical terms.
In fact, to the earthly mind, the wonders of God often seem crazy. Nicodemus would soon discover that “being born again” has nothing to do with physical rebirth. “Such is the nature of the kingdom of God (in which Nicodemus wished to be instructed) that the soul must be reshaped and molded.” The natural man must become a spiritual man.
God, in his infinite power and divine wisdom, is often shrouded in a mystery beyond the reach of human understanding. This does not mean that he cannot be known or that he has intentionally hidden from the world. However, to understand the divine nature of God, we must seek wisdom…