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JESUS THE MESSIAH |
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His Life and Times |
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No. 42 Jesus and Nicodemus Part 2
(To read Part 1 of this text, go to the Home Page above and then Archives of Previous Texts for Jesus the Messiah # 41.) John records what happened between Jesus and Nicodemus. From John 19:27 we can infer that John had a home in Jerusalem at the time of this event, and that it happened in his home. The everyday life of the people during the time of Jesus is very well known to us because we have access to so many documents of antiquity. The event happened on one of the nights in that Easter week that was so full of marvels. All of the houses at this time had a room that was only able to be accessed by an outside set of stairs. It was a guest-chamber that was built on the roof, and at night there was always a lamp kept burning for anyone who might need to use the room. It was here that Nicodemus came under the cover of night. He knew that not many would be out because of the gusty spring wind, and he didn't think that anyone would see him. He got to talk to Jesus that night and talk to Him about 'the Kingdom of God.' Jesus did not bring Himself down to the level of Nicodemus, but rather the opposite happened. Nicodemus wanted to know all about the 'Kingdom of God' that this Jesus was so intertwined with. Jesus told Nicodemus 'Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.' It is true that for the Jews persons in certain circumstances were regarded as 'new-born.' Examples of this would be the bridegroom on his marriage, the Chief of the Academy on his promotion, and the king on his enthronement. The Jews thought of this as completely starting over because these things were such a huge change in one's life. This expression would have been something that Nicodemus would have somewhat understood, although, not fully. He had never heard of being born from above. He did know that having a new relationship with God meant that he would have to enter into a new relationship to man, just as if they had at that moment been newly born. He knew that this would mean that his father, brother, mother, sister were no longer his nearest kin. Now he would be a new and another man. Also it would mean that he would be living in a new state. His past was past and his sins belonging to that past would be forgiven him. Knowing how the Jews felt about things can bring more light about the trouble that Nicodemus was having in understanding what Jesus had just told him, but yet how important it was for him to understand. Thus far in his life as a Jew, Nicodemus knew that when you were new-born, you just started from right then and lived a different life. He could understand it from the human point-of-view. His trouble, though, was understanding how you could be 'born again.' Nicodemus had already taken upon himself 'the Kingdom' which meant that he was "born-anew.' Jesus had told him, though, that he had to be 'born again' in order to see the Kingdom of God. Judaism could understand a new relationship towards God and man, and even the forgiveness of sins. It had no concept, though, of a moral renovation, or a spiritual birth as the initial condition for reformation. Also, another reason that Judaism could not have been the Kingdom of God, is because Nicodemus knew the law very well, but he had never heard of a 'birth from above,' or of its reality or even its possibility. Nicodemus and Jesus had started from the same premises - the 'Kingdom of God,' but they had totally different conceptions of what constituted it and where the door of entrance to it was. What Jesus had told Nicodemus had by now shaken his former views that were so firmly entrenched, and had opened possibilities for change in his mind. This must have made him very uneasy because he was very high up in the Sanhedrin. Still, he must have known that Jesus was telling him was the truth. It is the same way with us today. When we first arrive at the conviction that "Jesus is the Teacher come from God" we realize that what He teaches is very different from anything that we have ever known concerning the Kingdom and the entrance into it. Today, Jesus still has the same thing to say: 'Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.' The Kingdom is other, the entrance to it is other than anything you know or think. In our natural state, all we know is what is of the flesh. Man may rise to high mental and moral possibilities, and even think that he is capable of making his own way and being totally in charge of his life. To see the Kingdom of God, though, he must think on a different level than what he is previously on. Man cannot continue in his present fleshly state and see the Kingdom. The Kingdom is not just an improvement upon our present state, but a total repentance of the fleshly state that we are in and a submitting of our heart, mind, and life to God as our Divine King. The Bible says that 'That which is born from Spirit is Spirit and that which is born from flesh is flesh.' In order for one to be born from Spirit, he needs the birth from above. It has to be a birth that has nothing to do with our own flesh. Naturally, all this seemed very strange to Nicodemus. We will discuss the rest of his conversation with Jesus in the next text. For more information from this book, go to the Archives Page at my site www.cathydeaton.com There are other articles of interest there also. This text has been taken from the book Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah written by Alfred Edersheim. Permission has been given to use this book.
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