Photo: Tal Lemmens Photo
Author: Stephen Weller
2,441 words, 13 minutes read time
Nicodemus: “Be Born Again”
Scripture Reference: John 2:23-3:21
Context:
This passage unfolds during the early Judean ministry of Jesus, immediately following His cleansing of the temple at Passover in Jerusalem. Many people begin to believe in Him because of the signs He performs; however, their belief is superficial, based on miracles rather than a true understanding of His identity. Jesus, knowing the hearts of all people, does not entrust Himself to this kind of shallow faith (John 2:23–25). This sets the stage for His encounter with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council (Sanhedrin), who comes to Jesus at night; likely indicating both caution and genuine curiosity. Nicodemus represents a sincere but incomplete faith: he recognizes Jesus as a teacher from God because of His signs, yet does not grasp the deeper spiritual reality Jesus is revealing.
Jesus uses this conversation to introduce one of the central themes of the Gospel: the necessity of being “born again” (or “born from above”) to enter the kingdom of God. He contrasts physical birth with spiritual birth, emphasizing that entrance into God’s kingdom is not achieved through heritage, law-keeping, or religious status, but through a supernatural work of the Spirit. Drawing on Old Testament imagery, Jesus references the lifting up of the serpent by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4–9) to foreshadow His own crucifixion, explaining that just as the Israelites looked in faith to the bronze serpent and lived, so must people believe in the Son of Man to receive eternal life. This leads to the profound declaration of God’s redemptive love in John 3:16–17, where salvation is presented as a gift rooted in God’s love for the world, not condemnation. The passage concludes with a contrast between light and darkness: those who reject Jesus do so because they love darkness and their deeds are evil, while those who come to the light demonstrate that their works are done through God. Altogether, this section transitions from external belief based on signs to the deeper, inward transformation required for true faith, highlighting the universal need for regeneration and the decisive role of belief in Christ for eternal life.
Event Narrative:
Jn 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
Jn 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So, it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Bible Lessons for this event:
H106 Wrong Understanding (John 2:23-25)
H107 Born from Above (John 3:1-4)
H108 Born of Water and Spirit (John 3:5-8)
H109 How Can These Things Be (John 3:9-12)
H110 The Son of Man from Heaven (John 3:13)
H111 Jesus and the Snake (John 3:14)
H112 From Curse to Rescue (John 3:14)
H113 A Compelling Picture (John 3:15)
H114 God Loves and God Gives (John 3:16)
H115 God (John 3:16)
H116 World (John 3:16)
H117 Gave (John 3:16)
H118 Son (John 3:16)
H119 Believes (John 3:16)
H120 Perish (John 3:16)
H121 Life (John 3:16)
H122 Love (John 3:16)
H123 Love – Choosing Israel (John 3:16)
H124 Love – New Birth (John 3:16)
H125 Love – Greater Love (John 3:16)
H126 Save Not Condemn (John 3:17)
H127 He Who Believes Is Not Judged (John 3:18)
H128 Do You Seek Darkness or Enjoy Light? (John 3:19-20)
H129 The Truth Light Connection (John 3:21)
Event Summary:
This event covers two related sections: a brief description of people’s initial reaction to Jesus’ signs in Jerusalem, followed by Jesus’ nighttime conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee. This event emphasizes the themes of belief, new birth, and God’s love for humanity.
Key points of this event are:
(1) Jesus teaches that entering God’s kingdom requires a new birth by the Spirit, emphasizing the need for transformation beyond outward religious observance,
(2) John 3:16 reveals the depth of God’s love and the central purpose of Jesus’ mission: to offer eternal life to everyone who believes,
(3) This event presents Jesus as the light of the world, revealing truth and calling people out of spiritual darkness. It also shows that the decision to accept or reject Jesus has eternal consequence, and
(4) Through His coming sacrifice, Jesus provides the means for people to receive eternal life, fulfilling Old Testament imagery and prophecies.
This event emphasizes the necessity of faith in Jesus for eternal life, highlighting the transformation that comes through spiritual rebirth. It reveals God’s immense love for humanity, demonstrated through the gift of his Son, and calls people to step out of darkness into the light of truth. Believers are challenged to trust Jesus fully, live in the light of his truth, and embrace the new life offered through the Holy Spirit.
Understanding and Application:
John 2:23–3:21 – Questions of Understanding with Extended Answers
1. Why did Jesus not entrust Himself to those who believed in Him in John 2:23–25?
Answer:
Although many believed in Jesus when they saw His signs, their faith was superficial and based primarily on outward miracles rather than true spiritual understanding. Jesus, knowing all people, discerned that their hearts were not genuinely transformed. He did not need anyone to testify about human nature because He already understood the depth of sin and the tendency toward shallow belief. This reveals that saving faith is not merely intellectual acknowledgment or excitement over miracles, it is a heart-level transformation. Jesus distinguishes between temporary belief and authentic faith that results in new life.
2. What does Nicodemus’ approach to Jesus at night suggest about his spiritual condition?
Answer:
Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus at night, which may indicate spiritual uncertainty, fear of public association, or a symbolic representation of spiritual darkness. Though he recognized Jesus as a teacher from God because of the signs, his understanding was incomplete. His coming at night reflects the tension between his intellectual acknowledgment of truth and his lack of full spiritual illumination. This sets the stage for Jesus’ teaching about the necessity of being born again, moving from darkness into light.
3. What does Jesus mean by “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”? (John 3:3)
Answer:
Jesus teaches that entry into God’s kingdom requires a radical spiritual transformation, not physical birth, but a new birth from above. The phrase “born again” (or “born from above”) indicates a divine work where God imparts new spiritual life. This rebirth is necessary because human nature is fallen and incapable of entering God’s kingdom on its own. It is not achieved through religious status, heritage, or good works, but through the regenerating work of God. This underscores that salvation is entirely dependent on God’s initiative and grace.
4. How does Jesus explain being “born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5)?
Answer:
“Born of water and the Spirit” refers to spiritual cleansing and renewal accomplished by the Holy Spirit. The imagery likely draws from Old Testament passages such as Ezekiel 36:25–27, where God promises to cleanse His people and give them a new heart and spirit. Water symbolizes purification from sin, while the Spirit represents the impartation of new life. Together, they describe the complete transformation necessary for salvation, cleansing from sin and renewal of the inner person by God’s power.
5. What is the significance of Jesus comparing the Spirit to the wind (John 3:8)?
Answer:
Jesus uses the analogy of the wind to describe the mysterious and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. Just as the wind is invisible yet its effects are evident, the Spirit’s work cannot be controlled or fully understood by humans, but it is clearly seen in the transformed lives of those who are born again. This emphasizes that spiritual rebirth is not something humans can produce or manipulate; it is entirely the work of God. The Spirit moves freely according to God’s will, bringing life where He chooses.
6. Why does Jesus rebuke Nicodemus for not understanding these things (John 3:10)?
Answer:
As a teacher of Israel, Nicodemus should have been familiar with the Old Testament teachings about spiritual renewal and transformation. The prophets had clearly spoken about the need for a new heart and the work of God’s Spirit. His lack of understanding reveals that religious knowledge and position do not guarantee spiritual insight. Jesus’ rebuke highlights the failure of the religious leaders to grasp the deeper truths of Scripture and points to the necessity of spiritual illumination.
7. What does Jesus mean by being “lifted up” like the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14–15)?
Answer:
Jesus refers to the event in Numbers 21:4–9, where Moses lifted up a bronze serpent so that those who looked at it in faith would be healed. In the same way, Jesus would be “lifted up” on the cross, and those who look to Him in faith would receive eternal life. This foreshadows His crucifixion and reveals that salvation comes through faith in His sacrificial death. Just as the Israelites could not heal themselves but had to trust God’s provision, so too must people trust in Christ for salvation.
8. What is the meaning and significance of John 3:16?
Answer:
John 3:16 summarizes the gospel message: God’s love for the world is demonstrated through the giving of His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. This verse reveals the scope of God’s love (the world), the depth of His sacrifice (His Son), the condition for salvation (belief), and the result (eternal life). It emphasizes that salvation is available to all but must be received through faith in Jesus Christ.
9. What is the purpose of Jesus’ coming according to John 3:17?
Answer:
Jesus came into the world not to condemn it, but to save it. While the world already stands under judgment because of sin, Jesus’ mission is one of redemption and rescue. However, those who reject Him remain under condemnation because they refuse the only means of salvation. This reveals both God’s mercy and human responsibility; salvation is offered freely, but rejection results in continued judgment.
10. What does it mean that people loved darkness rather than light (John 3:19–20)?
Answer:
This statement explains why many reject Jesus. Darkness represents sin, ignorance, and rebellion against God, while light represents truth, holiness, and revelation. People prefer darkness because their deeds are evil and they do not want their sin exposed. Coming into the light requires repentance and a willingness to have one’s life transformed. This highlights the moral dimension of unbelief; it is not merely intellectual doubt, but a love of sin that resists God’s truth.
11. What characterizes those who come to the light (John 3:21)?
Answer:
Those who come to the light are described as people who practice the truth. Their lives demonstrate a genuine response to God’s work within them. Coming to the light shows that their deeds are carried out in God, meaning their actions reflect His transforming power. This does not imply perfection, but a life oriented toward truth, obedience, and openness before God. It is evidence of authentic faith and spiritual rebirth.
12. How does this passage distinguish between superficial belief and true saving faith?
Answer:
The passage contrasts those who believe because of signs (John 2:23) with those who are truly born again (John 3:3–8). Superficial belief is based on external evidence and may lack genuine commitment or transformation. True saving faith involves a work of the Spirit that changes the heart, leading to a new life characterized by truth and light. It is not merely believing about Jesus, but trusting in Him in a way that results in spiritual rebirth and ongoing transformation.
Anchor My Faith 
Leave a comment