Nicodemus
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countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that
lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above.
The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God.
Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in
the image of God.
It is impossible for finite minds to comprehend the work of re-
demption. Its mystery exceeds human knowledge; yet he who passes
from death to life realizes that it is a divine reality. The beginning
of redemption we may know here through a personal experience. Its
results reach through the eternal ages.
While Jesus was speaking, some gleams of truth penetrated the
ruler’s mind. The softening, subduing influence of the Holy Spirit
impressed his heart. Yet he did not fully understand the Saviour’s
words. He was not so much impressed by the necessity of the new
birth as by the manner of its accomplishment. He said wonderingly,
“How can these things be?”
“Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” Jesus
asked. Surely one entrusted with the religious instruction of the people
should not be ignorant of truths so important. His words conveyed the
lesson that instead of feeling irritated over the plain words of truth,
Nicodemus should have had a very humble opinion of himself, because
of his spiritual ignorance. Yet Christ spoke with such solemn dignity,
and both look and tone expressed such earnest love, that Nicodemus
was not offended as he realized his humiliating condition.
But as Jesus explained that His mission on earth was to establish
a spiritual instead of a temporal kingdom, His hearer was troubled.
Seeing this, Jesus added, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye
believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” If
Nicodemus could not receive Christ’s teaching, illustrating the work
of grace upon the heart, how could he comprehend the nature of His
glorious heavenly kingdom? Not discerning the nature of Christ’s
work on earth, he could not understand His work in heaven.
The Jews whom Jesus had driven from the temple claimed to be
children of Abraham, but they fled from the Saviour’s presence because
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they could not endure the glory of God which was manifested in Him.
Thus they gave evidence that they were not fitted by the grace of God
to participate in the sacred services of the temple. They were zealous
to maintain an appearance of holiness, but they neglected holiness of