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Appeals for Truth and Loyalty
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was a man in a high position of trust, a man who was looked up
to as one educated in Jewish customs, one whose mind was stored
with wisdom. He was indeed in possession of talents of no ordinary
character. He would not go to Jesus by day, for this would make
him a subject of remark. It would be too humiliating for a ruler
of the Jews to acknowledge himself in sympathy with the despised
Nazarene. Nicodemus thinks, I will ascertain for myself the mission
and claims of this Teacher, whether He is indeed the Light to lighten
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the Gentiles, and the Glory of Israel.
Jesus virtually says to Nicodemus: It is not controversy that will
help your case: it is not arguments that will bring light to the soul.
You must have a new heart, or you cannot discern the kingdom of
heaven It is not greater evidence that will bring you into a right
position, but new purposes, new springs of action. You must be
born again. Until this change takes place, making all things new,
the strongest evidences that could be presented would be useless.
The want is in your own heart; everything must be changed, or you
cannot see the kingdom of God.
This was a very humiliating statement to Nicodemus and with a
feeling of irritation he takes up the words of Christ, saying, “How
can a man be born when he is old?” He was not spiritually minded
enough to discern the meaning of the words of Christ. But the
Saviour did not meet argument with argument. Raising His hand
in solemn, quiet dignity, He presses home the truth with greater
assurance: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:
so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said unto Him,
“How can these things be?”
Some gleams of the truth were penetrating the ruler’s mind.
Christ’s words filled him with awe, and led to the inquiry, “How can
these things be?” With deep earnestness Jesus answered, “Art thou a
master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” His words convey
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to Nicodemus the lesson that, instead of feeling irritated over the
plain words of truth, and indulging irony, he should have a far more