Beginning of Life | Nicodemus the Ignorant

Bible: John 3

Suppose you tell your family or friends that you want to learn more about the Bible. How would they react? One might curiously ask why. Another might not be able to suppress a grin... The Bible? Man, that Book is outdated. Yet the Bible doesn't let you go. Something about the Bible intrigues you. What exactly, you don't know, but you do want to find out.

In the Bible, we also read about such a person. His name is Nicodemus. Religion is not unfamiliar to him. In fact, he is a Pharisee, a member of one of the orthodox religious movements of his time. He does his best to live as well and properly as possible. No one should have anything to criticize him for. And yet... there is something strange going on. Something that has caused confusion and questions in the life of Nicodemus.

For several weeks now, everyone has been talking about no one else but Jesus, a Man from Nazareth. Suddenly, He has appeared in the land of Israel. He does not look any different from other people, but He acts differently and He speaks differently. The leaders of the church consider Him dangerous, but the people follow Him. Especially because He performs many miracles. He heals the sick, gives light and sight to the blind, makes the lame and paralyzed walk again. He lives and speaks as a Leader, as Someone who has authority.

Nicodemus wants to know Who Jesus really is. Where does He get His position from? But there is a problem: what will his friends, the other Pharisees, think of this? They, in particular, want nothing to do with Jesus! One night, when no one can see, Nicodemus goes to visit Jesus. There, he is received by Jesus. You are always welcome to come to Him.

They start a conversation, and Nicodemus says: “We know that You are a Teacher from God, for no one can do such miracles as You do. That is only possible if God is with him.” Nicodemus thinks he knows. Jesus’ response is remarkable. He says: “Truly, truly (that is: most certainly) I say to you: Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus does not understand at all. He thought he knew Who Jesus was, but the conversation with Jesus has only just begun and he already doesn’t understand anymore. Maybe you recognize that. You once heard about God, read something from the Bible, but actually you didn’t understand any of it.

Nicodemus does not give up. You shouldn’t either! Jesus wants to make clear what life is really about. He wants to teach Nicodemus about the most important thing in life. He wants to teach us that as well. Nicodemus asks for an explanation about being ‘born again’ that Jesus spoke of:

You can’t go back into your mother’s womb, can you? This question shows that Nicodemus is thinking of the birth of a child. But Jesus means a spiritual, a supernatural birth. That is a change of your entire being. A change of your will, your inner self, your passions. Just like with Ruth and Manasseh. Their lives were also born again. At first, God meant nothing to them, they wanted nothing to do with Him. They did not know Him. They were empty of God and full of sin, of evil and injustice.

Now Jesus is going to explain to Nicodemus that it is possible to be changed, to be renewed, and also how that can happen. God works this through the Holy Spirit. We cannot see the Holy Spirit, just as we cannot see the wind. We hear its sound, we do not know where the wind comes from or where it is going. So it is with the work of the Holy Spirit. He comes into the lives of people and renews them, so that they no longer live without God and are lost without God. But so that they will be saved and receive a new life. A life from God, through God, and with God!

To give this change of life, God sent His own Son into this world. Jesus was hung on the cross, naked and bleeding. There, everyone could see it: the sins of the sinners saved by His Spirit were punished in Jesus’ death. So that they are free from their sins in Jesus – forever. Everyone who looks to Jesus in faith will be saved. But: the other side is also true. Everyone who does not look to Jesus will be lost forever. Jesus can still be found. By seeking Him in the Bible, while we pray that He will reveal Himself through His Spirit in the Bible. Even if it is in the middle of the night, just as Nicodemus sought Him at night.

Nicodemus received answers to his life questions. In the same way, God wants to give us answers to our life questions. Nicodemus did not understand immediately, but later it becomes clear from his life that he did understand. There comes a moment when he is no longer ashamed before his friends, when he is no longer afraid of the reaction of others, when he testifies in his life that he is born again and belongs to the Kingdom of God, through Jesus Christ. That alone is life with a future perspective! But, without Jesus there is no life. Without Jesus we are lost forever. That means that after we die, we will be without God forever. That is hell, a life in the greatest torment that never ends. But: today God still gives His Word, the means to be born again. He cares for people who still live without Him. He is willing to give them the new life, so that they will be with God forever. That is heaven, life in the greatest happiness that never ends.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him: I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.