John 3:1-21
RTNT 2021. I have confessed many times that I have a hard time reading John’s gospel and understanding what Jesus is saying, especially when he is answering a question, as to how His answer fits the question. Thankfully we worked through these gospels two years ago and my first comment in the first link below really helps me understand Jesus’ communication with Nicodemus – or maybe properly said, miscommunication! I’m talking about verse 3: Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. If “born again” can also be translated “born from above” and Jesus is saying “born from above” while Nicodemus hears “born again” the rest of the conversation makes more sense.
The conversation ends abruptly with no response from Nicodemus beyond verse 9, How can these things be? However, that’s not the end for Nicodemus. Jesus must have left an everlasting impression on Nicodemus. He appears twice more in John’s gospel. In John 7:50,51 we see Nicodemus challenging his Sanhedrin colleagues on their hasty judgment of Jesus. Then we see him at the foot of the cross (John 19:38-42), bringing spices to anoint Jesus’ body and then along with Joseph of Arimathea taking Jesus’ body down and placing Him in a tomb. Truly Jesus touched Nicodemus. And as with Jesus’ words with Nicodemus in today’s reading, we never know the impact that our faith-sharing words can have on our listener – possibly eternal impacts!!
See also: January 29 / John 3:1-9; January 30 / John 3:10-21
What stuck with me this time when I read this passage, is Jesus’ explaining to Nicodemus (who may have come at night because the light/truth has not yet reached him) that there are two kingdoms that coexist – the earthly kingdom and the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is like the wind in that it is invisible in the earthly kingdom but is pervasively present. Jesus says that you can hear it. Jesus, the only person who ascended and descended from heaven, is the gateway to the Kingdom of God by being reborn in the Spirit; He also is the gateway for ultimately returning to the Father in eternal life. And all it takes is to believe and to follow – which anyone can do regardless of background, education, circumstances, whether a king or a slave.