APRIL 16, 2017
JESUS AND NICODEMUS (PART II)
INTRODUCTION:
1. The account of Jesus and Nicodemus serves as the inauguration of Jesus’ teaching in this Gospel, just as the Sermon on the Mount does in the Synoptic Gospels.
2. Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin, came to Jesus by night to make inquiry. He apparently represented other members of the council as well, for he said, “We know that thou art a teacher come from God.”
3. Part one of this interview was more of a dialogue in which questions were asked and answered; in which also objections were raised and answered. Nicodemus was astonished at Jesus’ declaration of the requirements for entrance into the Kingdom of God. (Verses 1-8)
4. Now, in Part two of this interview, it is Jesus’ turn to be astonished, if you will, at Nicodemus’ spiritual ignorance, since he was a well-known teacher among the Jews. (Verses 9, 10)
a) Nicodemus did not deny what Jesus had said.
b) He only acknowledged that Jesus’ teaching about spiritual birth was strange to him.
c) Jesus expressed legitimate astonishment at this.
5. This second part of Jesus’ discourse was marked by silence on the part of Nicodemus.
a) Here Jesus treats Nicodemus with touching kindness and condescension.
b) Here Jesus fully reveals to Nicodemus Who He is, and what He came to do.
I. JESUS DECLARED TO NICODEMUS WHO AND WHAT HE WAS. (VERSES 11-13)
A. JESUS ANNOUNCED A TEACHING WHICH RESTS ON IMMEDIATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. (VERSE 11)
1. This was in opposition to the Rabbinical teaching which had to do with the letter of Scripture, but missed its essential truth.
a) Clearly, the central truth of Scripture was missed. (John 5:39)
b) Yet, the Scripture was clear, otherwise why would Jesus have been astonished that Nicodemus did not know these things? (Verse 10)
2. Christ here speaks of the certainty of Gospel truth, in which knowledge rises to sight and speaking is to testify of the reality.
a) Jesus said, “We speak what we know.” He and the others who bore witness from heaven, namely, the Father and the Holy Spirit.
b) The truths of Christ are of undoubted certainty. They are faithful sayings upon which we may venture our souls.
c) Jesus is not only a credible witness, who would never deceive us, but a competent witness, who could not Himself be deceived. “We testify that we have seen.”
d) What He speaks on all matters pertaining to God, the invisible world, of heaven and hell, of the divine will, and the counsels of peace, was what He knew, and had seen, for He was “by him as one brought up with him.” (Psa. 8:30)
e) The unbelief of sinners is greatly aggravated by the infallible certainty of the truths of Christ. “And ye receive not our witness.”
B. JESUS CALLED NICODEMUS TO FAITH. (VERSE 12)
1. Jesus had accommodated Nicodemus by communicating sublime heavenly truths through “earthly things,” i.e. similitudes and expressions borrowed from common earthly things.
2. If such familiar expressions were stumbling-blocks, what would be the case if He were to speak of spiritual things, i.e. “heavenly things” in their proper light without the aid of earthly comparisons?
3. These “heavenly things,” the Jewish leaders, represented by Nicodemus, had not understood, and had not believed.
4. Such things are only spiritually understood and it requires a quickening work by the Holy Spirit in order for mankind to grasp them. (Verse 3; I Cor. 2:14) As Jesus went on to speak of these “heavenly things,” Nicodemus, judging from his later witness, was apparently given grace to receive His teaching. (Ch. 7:50; 19:39)
C. JESUS REVEALED HIMSELF AS THE TEACHER, WHO, IN HIS OWN PERSON, WAS THE PERFECT REVEALER. (VERSE 13)
1. In this declaration, Jesus is no doubt mindful of Nicodemus’ initial statement in Verse 2. “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God.”
2. Indeed, He is more than “a teacher come from God.” He is the Son of Man Who came down from heaven.
3. Moreover, though He is come down, He is even now in heaven. This is the first of those “heavenly things” Jesus spoke to Nicodemus.
II. JESUS REVEALED TO NICODEMUS WHAT HE HAD COME TO DO. (VERSES 14-17) This is the second “heavenly thing” of which Jesus spoke.
A. HE REVEALED THE SPIRITUAL NATURE OF SALVATION AS FORESHADOWED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES. (VERSE 14; NUM. 21:9)
1. He had just presented a different Messiah than the Pharisees expected. Next He revealed a different salvation than they were interested in.
2. The salvation revealed was actually foreshadowed in the Old Testament, when the Israelites were in the wilderness. (Num. 21:4-9)
3. The people, being judged for their sin were being bitten and were dying from the bits of fiery serpents.
4. When nothing availed for their healing, the people cried to Moses, and he cried to God.
5. Moses was instructed to make a serpent of brass, attach it to a pole, and lift it up in the midst of the camp.
6. Messengers were sent out to announce the means of cure. “Look and live.”
7. Those that looked in faith lived.
8. Just so, the “Son of Man” had to be “lifted up” on a cross.
B. HE REVEALED A SALVATION THAT REQUIRES THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH. (VERSE 15)
1. Faith is the look that avails in salvation. “That whosoever believeth in Him…”
2. Faith alone saves from perishing. “…should not perish…”
3. Faith secures eternal life. “…but have eternal life.”
C. HE REVEALED A SALVATION THAT IS UNIVERSAL IN ITS SCOPE. (VERSES 16, 17)
1. The source of it is God’s love. (The love of compassion.)
2. The object of it is the world. There is one salvation for all mankind, whether Jew or Gentile.
3. The gift of love is God’s own Son.
4. The means by which salvation is obtained is faith; not faith in faith, but faith in the Son of God. “…whosoever believeth in Him.”
5. The result of it is eternal life for believers.
6. The divine purpose for which God sent His son is stated both negatively and positively. (Verse 17)
a) He sent Him not to condemn. Judgment is God’s “strange work.”
b) He sent Him to save. Saving sinners if God’s delight.
III. JESUS SHOWED NICODEMUS WHAT WILL RESULT TO HUMANITY FROM HIS COMING. (VERSES 18-21)
A. CHRIST’S COMING BROUGHT A PRESENT-DAY AND CONTINUING JUDGMENT. (VS. 18)
1. To go along with presenting a different Messiah, and a different salvation than the Pharisees expected, Jesus presented a different judgment.
2. It is a present-day and continuing judgment.
a) Believers escape judgment, for their judgment is in Another.
b) Unbelievers are judged already by the very fact of their unbelief.
B. UNBELIEF REVEALS ONE’S TRUE INNER HEART AND CHARACTER. (VERSES 19, 20)
1. It shows a rejection of light and a love of darkness. Because of their love for sin, they hate the light that exposes it, preferring the dens of darkness where sin dwells.
2. It reveals the continuing practice of evil. (Verses 19b, 20)
3. Is shows a fear of the revelation and rebuke for sin. (Verse 20)
C. FAITH, ON THE OTHER HAND, REVEALS THE INNER WORKING OF THE GRACE OF GOD. (VERSE 21)
1. It causes a love and longing for truth and light. “He that doeth truth cometh to the light.”
2. It produces an actual drawing to Christ. “He…cometh to the light.”
3. It manifests God’s inner working of grace in the actions of the believer.
Speak Your Mind