John • The passed-over passages 4 • Nicodemus approaches Jesus
- Steve Schott
- Sep 24
- 17 min read
Updated: Oct 1
► Previously in John we looked at the 7 signs recorded, and referenced in John 20:30-31, where it says
30Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
► We also explored the 7 "I AM" statements that do not always correspond to the signs, but also add definition to the nature and purposes of Jesus.
► Links to all of these posts can be found at the end of this posting
► Now I'm going to turn my attention to what I call the "passed-over" passages, Those passages from chapter 1 to chapter 12 which I haven't previously dealt with.
► After that we'll deal with chapters 13 to 19, which I call "the end of it all". These chapters deal with a single 24-hour period, that starts with the last supper in the upper room, and takes us all the way to the cross and the tomb.
► And then we'll end with chapters 20 and 21 that I call "the new beginning".
► Today we are going to look at a clandestine meeting with one of the most revered, if not THE most, within the Jewish leadership. Nicodemus, a "teacher of Israel", will come to Jesus under the cloak of darkness, to ask questions with what appears to be sincerity in his heart. He really wants to know the truth.
Nicodemus approaches Jesus → John 3:1-21
► Have you ever had to question the validity of an issue of a like-minded group of people?
► Ever have to ask them to wait and evaluate?
► Ever have to say “the facts don’t make sense?”
► Today we are going to look at a man who, despite the mindset of his peers, seeks to know the truth, and to attempt to understand why what he’s been lead to believe may not necessarily be true.
► His name is Nicodemus.
► John 3:1-3 – 1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
• “Now there was a man of the Pharisees,…”. "Pharisees" comes from a Hebrew word that means to “separate”.
→ “A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognised in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good and evil angels, and to the expectation of a Messiah; and they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, and be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods and the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy and their country’s cause, and possessed great influence with the common people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause; and were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity.” (note1)
• “named Nicodemus”
→ 3530 Νικόδημος [Nikodemos /nik·od·ay·mos/] n pr m. From 3534 and 1218; GK 3773; Five occurrences; AV translates as “Nicodemus” five times. 1 a member of the Sanhedrin who took the part of Jesus. Additional Information: Nicodemus = “conqueror”. (note2)
→ "Although Nicodemus was a Pharisee, his name was Gr. in origin and means “victor over the people.” (note3)
→ Is his name prophetic in that he will have victory for the Lord over a mass of people?
→ His name is only mentioned 5 times in the Bible, all of them in John → John 3:1, 4, 9; 7:50; 19:39
• “a ruler of the Jews;”
→ “This is a reference to the Sanhedrin, the main ruling body of the Jews in Palestine. It was the Jewish “supreme court” or ruling council of the time and arose most likely during the Persian period. In NT times, the Sanhedrin was composed of the High-Priest, chief priests, elders, and scribes for a total of 71 people. The method of appointment was both hereditary and political. It executed both civil and criminal jurisdiction according to Jewish law. However, capital punishment cases required the sanction of the Roman procurator” (note4)
→ Other “rulers”
> The Romans – rulers, but not Jews
> The Herod's – rulers, but not Jews (Idumeans (descendants of Esau))
• “this man came to Jesus by night…”
→ Why did he come by night???
> After work? After dinner? After rush-hour? After happy-hour?
> “While some have thought that Nicodemus’ visit at night was somehow figurative of the spiritual darkness of his heart (cf. 1:5; 9:4; 11:10; 13:30) or that he decided to come at this time because he could take more time with Jesus and be unhurried in conversation, perhaps the most logical explanation lies in the fact that, as a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus was afraid of the implications of associating openly in conversation with Jesus. He chose night in order to have a clandestine meeting with Jesus rather than risk disfavor with his fellow Pharisees among whom Jesus was generally unpopular.” (note5)
• “and said to Him, “Rabbi,…”
→ 4461 ῥαββί [rhabbi /hrab·bee/] n m. Of Hebrew origin 7227 with pronominal suffix; TDNT 6:961; TDNTA 982; GK 4806; 17 occurrences; AV translates as “Master (Christ)” nine times, “Rabbi (Christ)” five times, and “rabbi” three times. 1 my great one, my honourable sir. 2 Rabbi, a title used by the Jews to address their teachers (and also honour them when not addressing them). (note6)
→ A term of respect... Jesus-sama
• “we know that You have come from God as a teacher;…”
→ 1320 διδάσκαλος [didaskalos /did·as·kal·os/] n m. From 1321; TDNT 2:148; TDNTA 161; GK 1437; 58 occurrences; AV translates as “Master (Jesus)” 40 times, “teacher” 10 times, “master” seven times, and “doctor” once. 1 a teacher. 2 in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man. 1A one who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so. 1B the teachers of the Jewish religion. 1C of those who by their great power as teachers draw crowds around them i.e. John the Baptist, Jesus. 1D by preeminence used of Jesus by himself, as one who showed men the way of salvation. 1E of the apostles, and of Paul. 1F of those who in the religious assemblies of the Christians, undertook the work of teaching, with the special assistance of the Holy Spirit. 1G of false teachers among Christians. (note7)
→ He’s basically honoring Jesus by calling Him a teacher TWICE!!! Once in Hebrew (Rabbi) and once in Greek (Teacher).
• “for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
→ This is the “sticking point” with Nicodemus. He can’t fathom the idea that this Man could perform the kinds of signs He’s been doing unless He was from God.
→ Keep in mind that in John’s gospel, He’s only performed one miracle so far. At least only one “recorded” miracle.
→ The unasked question – “Who are You?”
• “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””
→ Notice that Jesus doesn’t answer Nicodemus’s question. He introduces an entirely new concept.
> Entrance into God's kingdom requires rebirth.
→ “again” - 509 ἄνωθεν [anothen /an·o·then/] adv. From 507; TDNT 1:378; TDNTA 63; GK 540; 13 occurrences; AV translates as “from above” five times, “top” three times, “again” twice, “from the first” once, “from the beginning” once, and not translated once. 1 from above, from a higher place. 1A of things which come from heaven or God. 2 from the first, from the beginning, from the very first. 3 anew, over again. (note8)
► John 3:4-8 – 4Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7“Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
• “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s
womb and be born, can he?”
→ Two questions that reveal Nicodemus’s lack of understanding.
→ He is thinking totally on a natural level.
→ He is thinking of a second, physical birth.
• “…born of water and the Spirit…”
→ (note9) - this entire dialogue below is taken from https://www.gotquestions.org/born-of-water.html, and is an excellent discussion of what this phrase means.
> Question: "What does it mean to be born of water?"
> Answer: In John 3, Jesus uses the phrase “born of water” in answer to Nicodemus’s question about how to enter the kingdom of heaven. He told Nicodemus that he “must be born again” (John 3:3). Nicodemus questioned how such a thing could happen when he was a grown man. Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5).
> Being “born of the Spirit” is easily interpreted—salvation involves a new life that only the Holy Spirit can produce (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:6). But there are a couple different schools of thought on what Jesus meant when He said, “born of water.” One perspective is that “born of water” refers to physical birth. Unborn babies float in a sack of amniotic fluid for nine months. When the time for birth arrives, that sack of water bursts, and the baby is born in a rush of water, entering the world as a new creature. This birth parallels being “born of the Spirit,” as a similar new birth occurs within our hearts (2 Corinthians 5:17). A person once-born has physical life; a person twice-born has eternal life (John 3:15–18, 36; 17:3; 1 Peter 1:23). Just as a baby contributes no effort to the birth process—the work is done by the mother—so it is with spiritual birth. We are merely the recipients of God’s grace as He gives us new birth through His Spirit (Ephesians 2:8–9). According to this view, Jesus was using a teaching technique He often employed by comparing a spiritual truth with a physical reality. Nicodemus did not understand spiritual birth, but he could understand physical birth so that was where Jesus took him.
> The other perspective is that “born of water” refers to spiritual cleansing and that Nicodemus would have naturally understood it that way. According to this view, “born of water” and “born of the Spirit” are different ways of saying the same thing, once metaphorically and once literally. Jesus’ words “born of water and the Spirit” describe different aspects of the same spiritual birth, or of what it means to be “born again.” So, when Jesus told Nicodemus that he must “be born of water,” He was referring to his need for spiritual cleansing. Throughout the Old Testament, water is used figuratively of spiritual cleansing. For example, Ezekiel 36:25 says, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities” (see also Numbers 19:17–19; and Psalm 51:2, 7). Nicodemus, a teacher of the law, would surely have been familiar with the concept of physical water representing spiritual purification.
> The New Testament, too, uses water as a figure of the new birth. Regeneration is called a “washing” brought about by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God at the moment of salvation (Titus 3:5; cf. Ephesians 5:26; John 13:10). Christians are “washed . . . sanctified . . . justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). The “washing” Paul speaks of here is a spiritual one.
> Whichever perspective is correct, one thing is certain: “born of water” is not a reference to water baptism. Baptism is nowhere mentioned in the context, nor did Jesus ever imply that we must do anything to inherit eternal life but trust in Him in faith (John 3:16). Water baptism is an outward sign that we have given our lives to Jesus, but not a requirement for salvation (Luke 23:40–43).
→ The short version of this discussion is that "born of water" is referring to physical birth, and "born of the Spirit" is referring to spiritual birth, or being "born again".
• “…he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
→ Suffice it to say that without the “again” part of the equation, the spiritual birth, there is no salvation.
• “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
→ In this verse Jesus is contrasting physical birth with spiritual birth, that’s why I believe that when He mentioned being “born of water and of the Spirit” I believe that being “born of water” is a reference to physical birth.
• “Do not be amazed…” with “…but do not know where…”
→ The evidence of the work of the Spirit is like the wind. You can see it’s effects, but you can’t see it.
► John 3:9-15 – 9Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12“If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13“No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
• “…How can these things be?”
→ Nicodemus is utterly perplexed.
• “…the teacher of Israel…do not understand…?”
→ Nicodemus had called Jesus “a” teacher in verse two. Jesus calls him “the” teacher here.
> “You should know these things Nick!”
• “…we speak…you do not accept...”
→ Who is “we”? Jesus and his disciples? Jesus and the scriptures? Jesus and the Spirit and the Father? YES!
→ Who is “you”? The first use of “you” in verse 11 is singular, meaning “I say to you, Nick, …”, but the second “you” in verse 11, and all of them in verse12, are plural.
• “…earthly…heavenly….”
→ Why would anyone expect that MORE revelation would be given if they haven’t accepted what they’ve already received?
• “…ascended…descended…Son of Man.”
→ Jesus is telling Nick that the only person qualified to reveal the mysteries of heaven is the “Son of Man”, which is an OT term for the Messiah. He is telling Nick in no uncertain terms that He Himself is the Messiah. And that only He can reveal heavenly things… which He won’t because they haven’t accepted Him yet based on what He has already said and done.
• “As Moses lifted up the serpent…” the passage below gives us the context for what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus.
→ Numbers 21:4-9 → 4Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey. 5The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” 6The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. 8Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” 9And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
• “…even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;…”
→ A prediction of Jesus death in a manner consistent with the serpents in the wilderness.
• “so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”
→ Just as during the Exodus, it wasn’t the looking at the serpent lifted up that saved the person, but the belief that prompted them to do so. They were doomed to destruction and their only course of action to resolve the situation was to trust in the remedy provided by God.
→ In like fashion, it’s not our looking at Jesus, knowing and understanding who and what He is, but rather our trusting that what He has done for us is sufficient.
→ Jesus has revealed clearly to Nicodemus that Jesus Himself is the only path from which he has any hope of ever seeing heaven.
► John 3:16-21 – 16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
• Some commentators have suggested that vs 16-21 are not a part of Nicodemus’s conversation with Jesus, but rather are a summary of the truths that Jesus revealed to Nicodemus presented to us by John, specifically for our benefit.
→ Either way, it clearly shows God’s motivation for sending His Son. To save the world.
> Our lives are filled with evil – we hate and fear the Light.
> God sent His Son not to judge us, but to save us – from our own sin and it’s inevitable punishment.
> The result should be a life that reflects the truth and love of God in our very lives, evident to all.
So what happened to Nick????
► John 7:45-53 – 45The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” 46The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” 47The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? 48“No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? 49“But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” 50Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) *said to them, 51“Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” 52They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” 53[Everyone went to his home.
• Nicodemus attempts to get the other members of the Sanhedrin to consider letting Jesus speak to them directly, to dialogue with them all as he had in private.
• If he is believing at this point, he’s hiding it from the others as they state in verse 48 “No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?”
• They even misquote the scriptures in saying that “no prophet arises out of Galilee”, as that was the home of the prophet Jonah.
► John 19:38-42 – 38After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. 40So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
• Nicodemus chooses to help Joseph of Arimathea, who is acknowledged to be a disciple of Jesus, to prepare Jesus’s body for burial. It doesn’t say clearly that he is a believer, but if he’s not, I think that he is very close to making that step. What he is doing for Jesus would be very hard to hide, with as much visibility as this event has had. So this is like him raising a flag and saying “I believe in Jesus”. And he would be rewarded for that belief on the third day.
So what?
► If we are believers, we have already taken the first step of application by believing in Jesus.
► Now can we stand and identify with Him?
► Will we take the opportunities that are given to us to lead others toward Jesus?
The Signs
The "I AM" Statements
► I AM #5 • I AM the Resurrection and the Life - Jesus is the SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE → John 11:24-27
► I AM #6 • I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life - Jesus is THE WAY TO THE FATHER → John 14:1-6
Comparison between the 7 signs & the 7 "I AM" Statements
Photo • 2025/08/28 - Eagle's Nest, along the Rio Grande, at the Mexican border, near Langtry, TX
“Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”
All linked verses are from the YouVersion at www.Bible.com
note1 • Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
note2 • Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
note3 • MacArthur, J., Jr., ed. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1580). Word Pub.
note4 • MacArthur, J., Jr., ed. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1580). Word Pub.
note5 • MacArthur, J., Jr. ed.. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1580). Word Pub.
note6 • Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
note7 • Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
note8 • Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
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