132
The Desire of Ages
buyers and the sellers; he beheld the wonderful manifestation of divine
power; he saw the Saviour receiving the poor and healing the sick; he
saw their looks of joy, and heard their words of praise; and he could
not doubt that Jesus of Nazareth was the Sent of God.
He greatly desired an interview with Jesus, but shrank from seeking
Him openly. It would be too humiliating for a ruler of the Jews to
acknowledge himself in sympathy with a teacher as yet so little known.
And should his visit come to the knowledge of the Sanhedrin, it would
draw upon him their scorn and denunciation. He resolved upon a
secret interview, excusing this on the ground that if he were to go
openly, others might follow his example. Learning by special inquiry
the Saviour’s place of retirement in the Mount of Olives, he waited
until the city was hushed in slumber, and then sought Him.
In the presence of Christ, Nicodemus felt a strange timidity, which
he endeavored to conceal under an air of composure and dignity.
“Rabbi,” he said, “we know that Thou art a teacher come from God:
for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with
him.” By speaking of Christ’s rare gifts as a teacher, and also of His
wonderful power to perform miracles, he hoped to pave the way for
his interview. His words were designed to express and to invite con-
fidence; but they really expressed unbelief. He did not acknowledge
Jesus to be the Messiah, but only a teacher sent from God.
Instead of recognizing this salutation, Jesus bent His eyes upon
the speaker, as if reading his very soul. In His infinite wisdom He
saw before Him a seeker after truth. He knew the object of this visit,
and with a desire to deepen the conviction already resting upon His
listener’s mind, He came directly to the point, saying solemnly, yet
kindly, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born from
above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
, margin.
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Nicodemus had come to the Lord thinking to enter into a discussion
with Him, but Jesus laid bare the foundation principles of truth. He
said to Nicodemus, It is not theoretical knowledge you need so much
as spiritual regeneration. You need not to have your curiosity satisfied,
but to have a new heart. You must receive a new life from above
before you can appreciate heavenly things. Until this change takes
place, making all things new, it will result in no saving good for you
to discuss with Me My authority or My mission.