❖ Video
❖ Audio (Message)
Jesus Who Leads Us From Darkness to Light
(John 3:1-15)
Mari Ikeda
As I took a week off last month, it’s been a while since I spoke from John’s Gospel last time, but I’d like to go back to it today. The passage today is John 3:1-15. Let’s start reading, v.1-3 first.
A. Nicodemus, who came under the cover of darkness (1-3)
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
The first thing that I think we should focus in this scene is that this scene took place at night. If I may exaggerate, this man called Nicodemus came to see Jesus under the cover of darkness. In fact this means something very symbolic. As I made it the title of my message today, Jesus led Nicodemus from darkness to light. So He will to us. That’s what we’ll learn today.
Now let’s sort out the information about Nicodemus. It is said here that he was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. That means, his official position was among those Jewish religious leaders who were hostile to Jesus. That might be one of the reasons why he came to see Jesus in the night. For many Jewish religious leaders in those days, Jesus was a sketchy teacher from a rural area, and a person on their black list as he might propagate a subversive thought. If Nicodemus saw Jesus in that way, he could just come to see Jesus during the day and openly questioned Jesus before the crowd. But he did not do so. He only visited Jesus in the night, when he could avoid being noticed and avoid the crowd. As we’ll learn more later, I suppose Nicodemus had a personal interest in Jesus and wanted to know His teaching more. But he needed to avoid being noticed by his peers and the crowd.
What Nicodemus first said to Jesus in v.2 is exactly the same with the typical flattery that the Pharisees usually use to Jesus in their attempt to trap Him. I assume Nicodemus was still more doubtful to Jesus at this point.
What is interesting is Jesus’ reaction. Although Nicodemus had asked Him nothing yet, Jesus told him out of nowhere, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (v.3) I think Jesus said like this only because He knew already why Nicodemus came in the night by himself and what he wanted. He gave a straightforward answer to what Nicodemus wanted to know, while Nicodemus himself was still wondering and only making diplomatic remarks.
I assume, Nicodemus wanted to be rescued. He knew that there was something wrong in what he had believed himself and taught to people, but did not know what to do if indeed something was wrong. He lost his confidence in his past and in his future at the same time. He was in darkness.
Knowing him, Jesus told Nicodemus to be born again.“Otherwise, you won’t be able to see the kingdom of God,” he said. In other words, Jesus told him to quit his previous way and start walking toward a new direction. We’ll read more about what it means shortly.
But before getting into it, let’s now see in advance what path Nicodemus would choose to take in the end, by looking at additional information about him. While other three Gospels have no record about him, this Gospel of John has two more accounts about him in addition to this passage today. In chapter 7, he speaks for Jesus before his peer religious leaders and insists that they should not condemn Jesus without even letting Him stand in a trial. In chapter 19, when Joseph of Arimathea takes the body of Jesus after He dies on the cross, Nicodemus comes to help Joseph bury the body. Isn’t it touching? Surely the life of Nicodemus was greatly changed by his encounter with Jesus.
Now let’s continue the passage today, v.4-8 next.
B. Even if we are powerless, the Holy Spirit gives us new life (4-8)
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus’ reaction here is so off target. I suppose it may reflect his impatience and despair. He might have felt pressed as he thought it would be impossible for an old person to start a new life. Or perhaps he has almost lost hope by thinking that it would be no help for him if he can start a life all over again only after he dies physically.
Again, knowing Nicodemus, Jesus speaks to him that while it is impossible by the power of human, it becomes possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. He says in v.6, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” We can safely interpret the word “flesh” here as the power of human. We have limits in our abilities and efforts. There are many things about ourselves that we want to change but cannot change.There are also many things in our society that we want to change but cannot change. There are wrong things about ourselves and our society that have to be corrected, but we don’t even notice. These are the limits of our “flesh.” But the “Spirit” is different. This “Spirit” points God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can make us born again and give us the power to change the world. It is not our power, but God’s power.
Moreover, Jesus continues to say in v.8, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” The word translated as “wind” here can be also translated as “spirit” or “breath.” The Holy Spirit is poured out on us by God’s will and works freely in us. He gives us a new breath and a new life. By this work of the Holy Spirit, we can reach where we cannot reach by our own power.
Jesus also said, “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” We should be surprised, because it’s not impossible, but possible for us to be born again and start a new life. It is something we should look forward to greatly by placing our hope in the power of the Holy Spirit, instead of relying on our own strength.
However, Nicodemus could not believe it yet. Let’s read the last part today, v.9-15.
C. We will live forever in God’s kingdom with Jesus (9-15)
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven —the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
While Nicodemus was still doubting if it was really possible for him to change his life, Jesus tells him there is something still more wonderful. It is the eternal life of living with Jesus, which goes beyond a physical life.
Now, let’s pay attention to v.14-15. It says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.” This originates from a story in the Old Testament, where people were forgiven of their sins by looking up the bronze snake that Moses made. (Numbers 21:4-9) Jesus meant that people would be forgiven of their sins by looking up Him likewise. In addition, “the Son of Man must be lifted up” means also that Jesus must be lifted up on the cross. It further means that He must be lifted up to the heavens after he dies on the cross and rose again. So “that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him,” as said in v.15. Jesus took our sin and died in our place. It was in order to forgive our sins and give us a new life to live in God’s love. If we believe it, and believe that Jesus was God who came down from the heaven to this world and that God sacrificed His own life for us, we can know how immeasurable God’s love for us is.
There is a word in the passage today that cannot be separated from this love of God. It is “the kingdom of God.” Jesus said to Nicodemus in v.3, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” He also said in v.5, “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” To see the kingdom of God and to enter it are the same thing. The kingdom of God means the place where God’s love rules. Therefore, to be born again means to become able to live in the place where God’s love rules.
Jesus says in v.11, “we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.” We are just like Nicodemus, when we are so overwhelmed by our own doubts and despair that we cannot receive God’s love that is offered right in our faces. However, God’s love is the truth, that Jesus testified and that His followers have kept passing on to this day. We can change our life by receiving this love of God, over and over again.
I’d like to close my massage by reading v.16-21 that we’ll read next time. It is like a reflection of the passage today, and indeed a central message of the whole bible.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
(Prayer) Dear Jesus, I ask you now to shine your light to darkness of each of us’ heart. Please give your light and guide those who feel they are in darkness. Help us move forward step by step by your power, when we face trials that we feel we can never get over by our strength. Help us keep placing our hope in you, so that we may not be overwhelmed by our anxieties and fears. Dear our Lord Jesus, we rely on your light. Please guide us. We pray in your name. Amen.
Summary
Sometimes we lose confidence in what we’ve done, doubt what we believe, and lose our way. Jesus tells us, “Be born again.” This is something that we cannot do in our own strength, but only through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us God’s forgiveness and love, corrects our mistakes, and gives us strength to keep walking forward with Jesus.
For Discussion
1. How can we be “born again”? What kind of life is that?
2. Do you see any similarities between yourself and Nicodemus?
(More about Nicodemus: 7:50, 19:39)